Eagles roll past NWF State in PC home opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 15, 2013) – NJCAA No. 10/FCSAA No. 2 Tallahassee Community College exploded for an 11-run first inning and cruised past Northwest Florida State College, 14-2, on Friday evening in a game that ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. 

Tallahassee (28-4, 2-0 Panhandle Conference) has won the first two games in the three-game set against Northwest Florida State (16-10, 0-2) and will go for the sweep on Saturday when the teams head back to Niceville for a 2 p.m. first pitch. 

The Eagles needed some late-inning heroics to claim a 3-2 win in Wednesday's series opener. The suspense ended quickly on Friday. 

After Tallahassee starter and winning pitcher Taylor Wright retired the Raiders on just seven pitches in the first, the Eagles preceded to send 15 batters to the plate during an 11-run outburst that all but put the game away. 

The Raiders were poised to get out of the inning down only 1-0, but a taylor-made double play ball went through the legs of shortstop Nick Masonia – the first of five errors by Northwest Florida State. Instead of an inning-ending double play, Chad Mabini scored from third to put the Eagles in front, 2-0. From there, things began to unravel quickly for the Raiders. 

Northwest Florida State starter Bucky Locke recorded only one out before being pulled after facing nine batters. He left with the Raiders down 6-0 and things didn't get any better. 

Anthony Torres greeted reliever Jake Molkentin with a double, his second hit of the inning, to score Tyler York and Cody Borup. Even when things looked to go right for the Raiders, they didn't. 

Molkentin struck out the next batter, Mabini, but the third strike was mishandled catcher Ben Craft, allowing Mabini to reach first. Following a walk to Clay Fenwick that loaded the bases, Trent Higginbothem cleared them with a double to push the Eagles' lead to 11-0. 

Higginbothem drove in the first run of the inning with a single and finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI. 

Tallahassee added its final three runs in the second – Mabini doubled home James Abbatinozzi and Cody Borup then scored on Fenwick's double. 

The Eagles finished with seven doubles on Friday. 

Each Tallahassee starter scored at least one run and drove in at least one. All but York recorded at least one hit. 

Meanwhile, Wright picked up the complete-game victory for Tallahassee. He allowed a pair of fourth-inning runs, both aided by a pair of errors charged to Mabini, but otherwise was not threatened. 

Tallahassee helped Wright's cause by turning three double plays. 

The Eagles also enjoyed a much better night swinging the bat in run-scoring situations. After struggling to the tune of 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday, Tallahassee went 7-for-11 with a walk just in the first inning and finished 9-for-18.

After Saturday's series finale at Northwest Florida State, Tallahassee will open a three-game set against Chipola College on Monday.