OCALA, Fla. — In a postseason slugfest that lived up to the hype of a high-stakes Regional showdown, the College of Central Florida baseball team fell just short in Game 1 of their best-of-three series against Northwest Florida State College. Despite a late-inning rally, the Patriots dropped a 12-11 thriller on Friday night at Goodlett Field.

The loss puts the Citrus Conference champion Patriots (33-21) in a 1-0 hole, meaning they will need to win two straight games to punch their ticket to the FCSAA Final Four championship next weekend at the legendary George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

A Back-and-Forth Battle

The game was an offensive clinic from the first pitch, with both teams trading blows in a contest that saw multiple lead changes. Northwest Florida State's potent lineup, led by the power-hitting Orlando Fernandez, managed to capitalize on early defensive lapses to build a middle-inning lead.

Central Florida, known for their resilience this season, refused to go quietly. The Patriots' bats came alive in the late innings, fueled by the same "never-say-die" attitude that secured them the Citrus Conference title just last week. CF had the tying run at third in the bottom of the 9th, but the Raiders' bullpen managed to escape the jam to secure the victory with a game ending double play.

Road to Tampa

The stakes could not be higher for the Patriots. This Regional series serves as the final hurdle before the "Big Stage" in Tampa. The winner of this weekend's series earns one of the coveted spots in the Final Four, where they would compete for the state championship at the spring training home of the New York Yankees.

For legendary CF head coach Marty Smith—who earlier this season reached the historic milestone of 1,000 career wins—the message to his team is clear: regroup and respond like we have all season.

Game 2 Outlook

The Patriots return to action, May 2, for Game 2 at 11 am. Because Northwest Florida State holds the 1-0 series lead, the Patriots face a must-win situation to force a deciding Game 3.

Series Schedule:

• Game 1: NW Florida State 12, CF 11 (NWF leads 1-0)

• Game 2: Saturday, May 2

• Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 3

Fans are encouraged to follow the live stats and broadcast for updates as the Patriots look to stay alive in the 2026 FCSAA Regional Tournament.