LAKE WALES â€" Christine Clark helped Florida Southern to a pair of wins with a pair of shutout efforts in the pitcher’s circle, and a pair of hits in each game. Sam Gale was a big part of the wins too, and like Clark, she contributed as both a pitcher and hitter; and while centerfielder Karlyn Scott isn’t a member of the pitching staff, her arm and bat also played an important role in both wins. Altogether, that trio helped lead the Moccasins to 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Warner in Tuesday’s doubleheader.
In game one, Scott’s bunt single in the first inning was the only Florida Southern base runner through the first three frames, but when Scott led off the top of the fourth with a walk, the Mocs turned it into their first run. Randi Grimes followed with a double to center that gave the Moccasins a 1-0 lead, and a single by Brittany Martin moved Grimes to third. A fly ball hit by Devin Mathews was deep enough to score Grimes with the second run of the inning, and an RBI single by Clark made it 3-0.
Although Scott and Clark would each pick up another hit, and Marty Wilcox would lead off the seventh with a double, the Moccasins were finished scoring. The way Clark was pitching though, the Mocs had all they needed.
In tossing her seventh shutout of the season, Clark gave up four hits, walked one and struck out five. One of those hits was a double by Tabatha Martin in the third inning, representing the only time Warner put a runner in scoring position. The Royals had two hits in the bottom of the fifth, but Katie Clemente’s came on a ball that hit Hilary Fiocca between first and second base, resulting in an automatic out. Jelisa Potter was also erased on a throw by Scott while trying to stretch a single into a double in the sixth inning.
Kaitlyn Grimail fell to 6-6 with the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits, striking out two and walking one. Scott and Clark each had two of those eight hits.
Clark started game two in the circle as well, and this time needed late help from Gale in order for the Mocs to record another shutout win. Both pitchers also got defensive help from Scott, Mathews and Christie Bailey, who combined to cut down two Warner base runners at the plate.
The first of those plays occurred with the game scoreless in the bottom of the third. With pinch-runner Amanda Gardner at second after a hit by Stefani Bonilla, Tabatha Martin lined a pitch into center for a 2-out base hit. The Royals sent Gardner home, but Scott threw a strike to the plate where Mathews put down the tag.
The Moccasins then scored in the top of the fourth when Scott led off with an infield hit, took second on a ground out by Grimes and came home on Brittany Martin single.
Two innings later, it was Gale who led off the inning with a hit, this one a double into the leftfield corner. A bunt by Steph Graziani moved her to third, where she scored on a fly ball by Grimes.
Already with five scoreless innings in the game, and 12 in the doubleheader, Clark took the ball to start the bottom of the sixth; but following consecutive one-out singles by Laura Lovell and Tabatha Martin, she was replaced by Gale with runners at first and second. After moving in from left field, Gale got a fielder’s choice for out number two, leaving runners at the corners.
The Royals tried to steal a run with Potter breaking for second, and Lovell breaking for the plate on a 1-0 pitch, but the Mocs foiled the plan when Bailey took Mathews’ throw in front of the bag and sent the ball right back to the Moccasin catcher. For the second time in the game, Mathews applied the tag at the plate to end another Warner scoring threat, leaving the Mocs still ahead 2-0.
The score remained that way as Gale got through the seventh for her first save, giving Clark her 16th win against only four losses. It was Florida Southern’s 13th shutout of the season. The Royals matched their game one total with four hits against the combination of Clark and Gale, with neither pitcher issuing a walk, and Clark picking up all four strikeouts.
Hayley Padgett took the loss, falling to 4-2, giving up only two runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference play this weekend with a 3-game series at Lynn University. The first game is Friday at 3:30 p.m., with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
