Baseball team loses home opener against College of Central Florida

The Eastern Florida State College baseball team lost a close game with No. 4 College of Central Florida Monday at Bruce Bochy Field.

The Titans, playing at home for the first time this season, lost 3-2 on a questionable call in the sixth inning.

Eastern Florida State College sent sophomore Grayson Adams to the mound and he tossed six strong innings for the Titans.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Adams in the top of the first, the Titans got things going right off the bat. With one out, Don McKnight walked and advanced to third on Zach Taylor's single. Dalton Robinson hit into a fielder's choice that scored McKnight.

Catcher Eddiel Tolentino hit a full-count pitch against the left-field wall for a double, scoring Robinson and giving the Titans a 2-0 lead.

Adams would continue to pitch well and retired 10 in a row at one point before College of Central Florida's Juan Correa hit a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Leading 2-1 in the sixth inning, the Titans had two out when Carson Bayne hit a line drive to center field. It looked as if Jacob Vermeire made the diving catch but the official said it was no catch and scored the tying run.

It would remain tied until the top of the eighth inning. Patriots' Michael Guilliams had an RBI single that gave the Titans the lead.

The Titans had two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Zach Taylor's line drive was grabbed by the first baseman who stepped on first for the double play.

Anthony Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but the Titans could not tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Adams pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out three. Jacob Hardy came in and struck out three over two innings, allowing one unearned run.

Eastern Florida State College will host Palm Beach State College Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Bruce Bochy Field. The Panthers won the first meeting this season, 8-2. Admission to Bruce Bochy Field is free and the game will be shown live online at EFSC Titans YouTube page.