Home runs by Wade Kirkland, Will Cherry and Nick Stanley powered the top-ranked Moccasins to an 8-7 win over Southern Connecticut Wednesday night at Henley Field.

The win was the sixth straight for the top-ranked Moccasins, who are 25-5, and their 18th at home this season without a loss.  Southern Connecticut fell to 7-8.

Trailing 3-0 going to the bottom of the fifth, the Moccasins struck for five runs.  Trae Gore drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the first run home, then Wade Kirkland followed with a grand slam home run over the left field fence.

Cherry belted his team-leading 12th home run in the sixth, then Nick Stanley delivered a two-run blast in the seventh to put the Moccasins up 8-3.

Southern Connecticut did not go away quietly, however.  The Owls scored twice in the eighth off Patrick Szczerba, then scored two unearned runs in the ninth off closer Daniel Tillman and had the potential tying run on base when Andrew Babb hit into a game-ending double play.

Matt Zoltak worked the first seven innings for the Moccasins and earned his first win in three decisions.  After giving up three runs in the first two innings, Zoltak allowed just two hits and no runs through the next five.  Even though he gave up two unearned runs, Tillman recorded his seventh save of the season.

The Moccasins open a three-game Sunshine State Conference series Friday at 7 p.m. at Saint Leo.  The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.