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Highlands Today

Panthers Split Over Weekend

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

SFCC right-hander Chaz Abeln has been solid early in the season for the Panthers.

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: February 24, 2009

AVON PARK - Despite playing four games in four days, the South Florida Community College baseball team used its potent offense to win a pair of those contests.

On Friday, SFCC lost to Indian River State College by a score of 12-2, but the Panthers bounced back to sweep a doubleheader from Clearwater Christian College on Saturday by scores of 11-0 and 13-0.

Freshman right-hander Matt Fuglesang earned the win in the first game to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Fuglesang allowed four hits in six innings and struck out eight.

In the second game, Austin Gaines picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief of left-hander Andrew Barbosa, who was making a rehab start.

Freshman Ethan Lovell led the Panthers offense by collecting five hits in the doubleheader, while Greg Smith had five hits and Gaines hit two home runs and drove in six runs.

On Sunday, the Panthers, who are the fourth-ranked team in the state, lost at Indian River by a score of 5-3.

South Florida led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, before starter Johnny Sedlock tired and Indian River broke through to tie the game.

The Panther bullpen couldn't contain the Indian River attack and three more runs crossed the plate.

"Johnny was near his pitch count and a little tired and we didn't use good patience in the top of the eighth inning," said SFCC coach Rick Hitt. "We swung at the first pitch in consecutive at-bats and it was a quick top of the inning.

"Johnny gave up a single, a home run and a single and we went to the bullpen, but we couldn't hold the lead.

"It was a disappointing loss, but we've got to put it behind us and get ready for the next game."

SFCC, which is 13-5, is back in action with a road game at Palm Beach CC on Wednesday and then the Panthers are home on Friday and Saturday.

SFCC Softball

The South Florida Community College softball team is in a funk.

The Panthers dropped a doubleheader to Indian River on Sunday by scores of 5-1 and 8-0.

"We continue to make mistakes and errors," said Panther coach Carlos Falla. "In the second game we allowed seven unearned runs and you're not going to win many games doing that.

"It's very frustrating because it's a different person each game."

The losses dropped the Panthers to 7-13 on the season with the important conference games slated to begin in two weeks.

""We're as talented as any team we face on paper," Falla said. "But we've got to get focused and play like we can.

"We're just not getting it done, but hopefully, we can get it figured out and start playing like I know we can when the conference games begin."

South Florida is back on the diamond with an away game at Lake Sumter CC on Friday and the Panthers are at Central Florida Community College on Saturday.

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