Max Russell and Daniel Tillman combined for a three-hit shutout, as the seventh-ranked Moccasins blanked Nova Southeastern 3-0 in the opening game of their three-game Sunshine State Conference series at Henley Field Friday night.
In a game that took just two hours to play, Russell turned in his best outing of the season, working eight innings to earn his tenth win in 11 decisions. He allowed just two hits, none after the third inning, struck out seven and walked two. Tillman came on in the ninth and recorded his 13th save of the season. He gave up a leadoff single to Nikko Echevarria, but he was erased when Brayan Valencia hit into a double play and then Rhys Roberts grounded out to shortstop to end the game. Russell is the first Moccasin pitcher to post back-to-back 10-win seasons since Jeremy Ward won 10 games in the 1999 and the 2000 seasons.
Andrew Grutka drove in the Mocs' first run in the fourth, scoring Wade Kirkland with a bouncer over the third baseman's head. Trae Gore doubled home Kyle Gibbs with the second run in the fifth. Braxton Chisholm's two-out single in the eighth scored pinch-runner Adam Miller with an insurance run.
Gore, Mitchell and Grutka each had two hits for the Moccasins (38-10, 13-6 SSC). The Moccasins and Sharks (31-20, 11-8 SSC) wrap up their series with a doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. at Henley Field. There will be no game Saturday due to FSC's Commencement. The six Moccasins who are completing their eligibility - Chisholm, Gore, Grutka, Dustin Merrell, Tucker Pryor and Ryan Wolfe - will be recognized at Sunday's doubleheader.
