In a game that produced 28 runs, 34 hits and nine errors and took three hours and 21 minutes to play, the fifth-ranked Moccasins prevailed over Lynn 16-12 in the opening game of their three-game Sunshine State Conference series at Henley Field Friday night.
The win was the Moccasins' seventh straight and boosted their record to 32-5 overall, 10-3 in the SSC. Lynn dropped to 11-26-1, 1-9 in the SSC.
After Lynn had scored twice in the first two innings to take a 4-2 lead, the Moccasins took advantage of four Lynn errors in the third to score six unearned runs and led the rest of the game.
Andrew Grutka led the Moccasin offense with a four-hit performance. Wade Kirkland, Kelvin Clark and Trae Gore each homered in the game. Clark, Kirkland, Colin Kaline, Zach Maggard and Tony Mitchell each had two hits, as the Moccasins enjoyed their sixth straight game with at least a dozen hits. Kirkland and Clark each drove in three runs. Kirkland's home run, his 10th of the season, was a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. Clark belted a two-run homer, his 12th, in the fourth. Gore hit a solo homer, his 10th, in the eighth.
Tyler Benzel was the only Moccasin starter without a hit in the game and as a result, his 12-game hitting streak ended.
Max Russell worked into the sixth and won his eighth game this season without a loss. Daniel Tillman came on in the eighth and finished the game to record his ninth save.
Eight of the Moccasins' 16 runs were unearned, as were three of Lynn's 12 runs.
The Moccasins and Fighting Knights conclude their series with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Henley Field.
