LEESBURG, Fla. – In its second straight one-run game in as many days, Suffolk baseball came out on the right side of a 6-5 decision as freshman Jack Mihalchik's first collegiate hit brought in the winning run to send the Rams over Lakeland, 6-5, Friday at Pat Thomas Stadium as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 6 | Lakeland 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2) | Lakeland (0-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk chased two runs after Lakeland put up a pair in the top of the first.  

The Rams response came in the bottom of the third. Colin Flynn singled through the left side and cruised in on Garret Roberts triple to right center. That was not the only Ram to score on the play though as an overthrow to third allowed the senior designated hitter to cross home and tie things at 2-all.

In Suffolk's next turn at the plate it took the lead. Max Iorio got things going with a double to center field and coasted home thanks to Max Martin's single. After Joe Norris walked, Sam Armbruster bunted the Rams over in time for Roberts' base clearing single to left field that pushed the margin to 5-2.  

Lakeland made it interesting in the sixth as it got two runs back behind four hits to trim the gap to one, 5-4.  

Two innings later, the playing field leveled at 5-all. Chris Daly's single through the left side plated Landon Mani, who walked to even things.  

The Rams stranded the go-ahead in the eighth before Gergory Kaufmann retired the side in the ninth to set-up the thrilling finish with Suffolk's top of the order due up.

Roberts led off with a single to left before Jonny Gilbride and Harry Painter walked to chuck the bags. Mihalchik sauntered to the plate with no outs. The freshman outfielder put on his hero cape with a base hit to center to lift Suffolk to the 6-5 win.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Kaufmann picked up the win behind 1.0 inning of scoreless, hitless relief with a pair of punchouts. 
• Suffolk's starter Pierce Salbego compiled a four-run, eight-hit, one-walk, six-strikeout effort over 5.2 innings. 
• Patrick Desmond came out of the pen for 2.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits and three walks with two Ks. 
• Michael Castillo took the loss after giving up one run on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 1.2 frames of relief. 
• Over 6.1 innings, Nathan Stephany had a five-hit (four earned), seven-hit, two-walk and four-strikeout performance.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Mihalchik went 1-for-1 with one RBI. 
• Roberts registered a 3-for-5 effort with a triple and three RBI and two runs scored. 
• Iorio tallied two hits, including one double, and scored one run. 
• Martin added one hit, one RBI, one run, one walk and one stolen base. 
• Armbruster and Flynn rounded out the Rams with a hit with one each. 
• Norris and Flynn scored one run apiece. 
• Armbruster laid down a sac.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Lakeland met for the first time. 
• Mihalchik's first collegiate at bat was a walk-off base hit. 
• Kaufmann tallied his first win as a Ram. 
• Iorio has successfully had at least one hit in all five of Suffolk's games this year.
• Martin walked and stole one base for the first time in his Rams career.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk makes the trip back to Leesburg, Florida tomorrow, Sunday, March 10 for a 10 a.m. first pitch against North Park.