Tallahassee’s season ends with loss to Chipola

LAKELAND, Fla. (May 12, 2013) – The final chapter of Tallahassee Community College's storybook season was written on Sunday afternoon when Chipola College defeated the top-ranked Eagles, 10-2, in an elimination game at the NJCAA Gulf District/FCSAA State Baseball Tournament. 

Tallahassee ends its season with a 46-10 record, the second-most wins in school history.

Already in front 7-2, Chipola scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to finish the game and Tallahassee's season via the mercy rule. The game ended on Cameron Gibson's two-run single. He went 3-for-4 with four RBI. 

In fact, the Indians scored the final eight runs of the game to break a 2-all tie. 

Three straight singles, including two that didn't make it out of the infield, loaded the bases in the fourth and knocked out Tallahassee starter and losing pitcher Patrick Riley. 

Reliever Nick Baker was poised to get out of the jam with only one run allowed but Danny Mars doubled to deep right center to score Luis Tunon and Neikar Navarro and give Chipola a 5-2 lead. 

All three runs were charged to Riley, who allowed nine hits and five total runs (all earned) in three-plus innings. 

Chipola scored two more runs in the sixth. 

After managing only 12 hits in its first two games, the Indians exploded for 16 on Sunday. 

Tallahassee had only five hits but Chipola starter and winning pitcher Taylor Lewis walked four batters and hit three others. However, the clutch hit eluded the Eagles all day. 

Tallahassee got on the board in the first when Tyler York singled home Anthony Torres. The Eagles eventually loaded the bases but James Abbatinozzi struck out looking to end the inning. 

Chipola tied the game in the bottom half on consecutive two-out extra base hits, the second a ground-rule double off the bat of Ian Rice. The Indians scored again in the second then watched Tallahassee tie the game in the third. 

Chad Mabini drew a leadoff walk then scored from first on York's double down the left field line. 

York and Trent Higginbothem both went 2-for-3.