LAKELAND — It was just one win for Gulf Coast on Monday, but it was the type of victory that could propel a team to greater things.
Brian Lamboy singled in Ryan Koziol with the tying run and a throwing error brought around Nick Flair to cap a three-run comeback in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win over Tallahassee. The Commodores (40-13) rebounded from their first loss in the FCSAA Gulf District/NJCAA Region 8 tournament late Sunday to become one of the final four teams in the draw.
GC plays the loser of Polk State-Central Florida Tuesday at noon CDT. The Commodores need three wins in a row to secure the state title and a berth in the national tournament.
None of that would have been possible had losing pitcher Victor Cole and Tallahassee held on Monday to advance. Leading 4-2, Cole started the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout of Dondrayas Harris and it appeared as if Trevor Davis was going to be retired quickly when Tallahassee second baseman Jonathan Burkett tracked his popup. However, right fielder Johnny Blue Craig called off Burkett, the wind slowed the ball and it bounced harmlessly in front of him for a single.
“That makes you think you have a shot,” GC coach Mike Kandler said. “The second baseman looked like he was camped. Sometimes you have to have a little bit of divine intervention.”
Koziol followed the blooper with a single to put runners on first and second with one out. Flair blasted a pitch to right field over Craig’s head, which bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double to score Davis and pull GC within 4-3.
Lamboy singled to right field to plate Koziol and Craig’s throw to the plate sailed over Robert Henderson’s head allowing Flair to wheel home for the victory.
“It gives you some momentum because you had to have a miracle win,” Kandler said. “In reality, it was one game and it’s one at a time for us. Our guys didn’t want the season to be over yet.”
Tallahassee (40-18) did its best to ensure it wouldn’t be finishing early, either. The Eagles moved ahead 3-2 on Quincy Nieporte’s two-run single in the fifth. They added a run in the seventh on Davis’ throwing error.
GC took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the third. Max Bartlett tripled in Chandler Durham, who led off with a double, and Dalton Kelley scored Bartlett with a sacrifice fly. Davis, Flair and Bartlett each had two hits for GC, which survived four errors.
Cameron Ragsdale was the first of four pitchers for the Commodores and started on only two day’s rest. He lasted 3 1/3 innings and gave way to Matt Foster. Ryan Koziol (2-2) pitched the ninth and was the winning pitcher.
Tuesday’s starter is undecided, Kandler said. Brendan Leach could go on two days’ rest after a Friday start. Kelley also is an option with the right-hander making two appearances in the tournament of one inning or less each time.
Tallahassee 010 020 100 — 4 5 1
Gulf Coast 002 000 003 — 5 9 4
One out when winning run scored
Cole (L) and Henderson; Ragsdale, Foster (4), Kelley (8), Koziol (9, W, 2-2) and Durham. 2B: GC 2 (Flair, Durham). 3B: GC (Bartlett). LOB: TCC 5, GC 2.
Late Sunday
Polk State 8, Gulf Coast 0
LAKELAND — Matt Pearce limited GC to five hits and Polk State scored five runs in the eighth to cap the run-rule finish. Pearce had nine strikeouts and one walk in starting what was Polk State’s second game of the tournament, while GC played its third.
West Covington started and lost for GC, giving up three runs on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk in 3 2/3 innings. GC relievers Brandon Pergantis and Austin Howze held Polk State scoreless for 3 1/3 innings. Jordan Worthing yielded the final five runs on six hits over the final 2/3.
Polk State had 15 hits with Matt Piatt and Casey Shroeder collecting three apiece.