Max Russell struck out 10 and allowed just two hits in six innings pitched while his teammates staked him to a 13-0 lead after three innings as Florida Southern turned Friday the 13th into a lucky day, posting a 16-2 win over Palm Beach Atlantic at Henley Field.
The Mocs and the Sailfish conclude their three-game series Saturday at Henley Field with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Russell, 1-0, walked the first batter he faced and then retired seven in a row before Nick Norley lined a double down the left field line for the Sailfish's first hit of the game. The sophomore lefty allowed just a single to Michael Kutch in the 5th while striking out a career-high 10 batters.
The Mocs gave Russell all the runs he needed in the first as Nick Stanley tripled with the bases loaded and then scored himself on an infield ground out for a quick 4-0 lead.
Florida Southern, 4-3, added five more runs in the 2nd as they sent ten men to the plate after batting around in the first. Braxton Chisholm's triple was one of four hits in the frame. The Mocs continued the scoring onslaught with four more runs in the third on four more hits including doubles by Wade Kirkland, Stanley, and Zach Maggard.
Stanley, a senior transfer from North Carolina State, drove in five runs on the night while Maggard plated three runs. Kirkland led the Mocs with four hits while Trare Gore added three.
Jake Guengerich pitched the final three innings allowing a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth to pick up his first save of the year.
Buddy Fisher, 0-2, took the loss for the Sailfish surrendering nine runs on nine hits in just two innings of work.
