LAKELAND â€" Randi Grimes continues to deliver for Florida Southern, while Dani Blake made a special delivery of her own. With one player picking up the big hit at the plate, and the other preventing a runner from reaching the plate, the Moccasins were able to hold off Lynn for a 2-1 victory Friday night in the opener of their 3-game Sunshine State Conference series.
All of the scoring was done in the first inning, with the Knights (6-28, 1-9) getting an RBI single from Mandi Brown in the top half, and the Moccasins (16-13, 7-6) getting a two-run double from Grimes in the bottom half. After that, Lynn pitcher Callie Darlin and Florida Southern pitcher Christine Clark matched zeros the rest of the night, though the Moccasins left nine runners on base, including two in each of the final two innings when they had at least two on with none out.
The game started with Lynn leadoff hitter Brittany Gross reaching on a 3-base error, and coming in to score two batters later when Brown went the opposite way for a single down the right field line. It was one of only five hits allowed by Clark, who improved to 13-6 while striking out seven and walking no one.
Florida Southern came right back in the bottom of the first when Karlyn Scott was hit by a pitch and Brittany Martin singled. Lynn centerfielder Katrina Lavadan nearly made a sliding catch on the ball, but was unable to control it, and when the Knights tried to throw Scott out at third, Martin was able to take second. That brought Grimes to the plate with two out, and the junior from Lakeland lined a pitch into the left centerfield gap, scoring both runners for a 2-1 Moccasin lead. It also kept Grimes' average with runners in scoring position at .500 for the season.
The Knights had a golden opportunity to tie the game, or possibly score even more runs, in the top of the third when Gross reached on an infield single and Lavadan followed with a double to put runners at second and third with none out. That’s when Blake ended the threat by catching Brown’s line drive to center and making a strong throw to the plate where Gross was attempting to score. With catcher Heather Raulerson blocking the most direct route, Gross tried to slide around her, but Raulerson still got the tag on her to complete the double play. Lavadan ended up at third, but was stranded when Carissa Cook grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Knights had just two more hits off Clark over the final four innings, one of them a bunt single by Gross, who continues to be a thorn in the Moccasins’ side. The senior outfielder had a big series against the Mocs in 2010, both offensively and defensively, and she was at it again Friday. In addition to her two hits, Gross also took one away from Grimes in the fifth inning when the Mocs had two runners on base.
One inning later, the Moccasins loaded the bases with none out, but this time it was Brown who made a clutch defensive play for the Knights. The Lynn shortstop leaped high to snag a ball hit by Steph Graziani, and after landing on her feet, fired the ball to third for a double play when Khaliah Brown was unable to scramble back in time.
Grimes and Blake each had two hits for Florida Southern, which had a total of eight off Darlin, who took the loss despite giving up just two runs. She struck out four and walked none.
Florida Southern and Lynn will complete their series with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
