LAKELAND â€" It’s been a long time since the Moccasins have had a player like Christine Clark, who can make a huge impact as both a pitcher and a hitter. They may not have to wait as long for the next one. While Clark had a win and a save on Saturday, freshman Sam Gale homered in game one, had another run-scoring hit in game two, and also pitched five shutout innings for her first career win as Florida Southern won a doubleheader from Palm Beach Atlantic, 4-2 and 6-0.
The Moccasins (28-9) were excited about their pitching Saturday, but there was plenty more to be happy about too. Sophomore shortstop Christie Bailey had three RBI in the nightcap and once again made some difficult plays in the field look almost routine; and freshman outfielder Dayna Hunn went 3-for-3 with an RBI in game two, picking up a double and a triple.
The Moccasins also got a big day from first baseman Randi Grimes, who had two hits in each game, including a solo home run in the opener and a double in game two. Centerfielder Karlyn Scott made her presence felt too, throwing out two runners on the bases in game one, and delivering the Mocs’ final run of game two with an RBI single.
Palm Beach Atlantic (21-20) used a walk, a sacrifice bunt and an error to score in the top of the first inning of game one, but Gale, who was playing in left field, tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the third. One inning later, Clark doubled in Hunn, and the Mocs scored another run on an error to go up 3-1.
After Erica Walters’ RBI single got PBA within 3-2 in the top of the fifth, Grimes gave Florida Southern an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a home run to center, her second round-tripper of the season.
Clark was then able to finish things in the top of the seventh for her 20th win of the season, upping her record to 20-4. The senior gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked one, and both Sailfish runs were unearned. It was Clark’s 66th career win, moving her into sole possession of fifth place on the school’s all-time list, one ahead of Stacey Bronson (2003-06), and one behind fourth-place Katy Cortelyou (1992-95).
The Sailfish actually had their leadoff batter reach base five times against Clark, but could get only two of them home. One reason was Scott, who threw out Camille Benito trying to stretch a single into a double in the top of the fourth, and then gunned down Lauren Powell at third base to end the top of the sixth. That was the more impressive of the two, and came after Scott caught a fly ball in right center with runners at first and second.
Though she gave up only five hits to Clark’s seven, Mary Pippin took the loss for Palm Beach Atlantic, falling to 12-10. She struck out eight and walked one, giving up three earned runs in her complete game.
Gale (1-1) started the second game in the pitcher’s circle for Florida Southern, and kept the Sailfish off the scoreboard for the first five innings before Clark went the final two for her third save of the year. Combined, the two Moccasin pitchers gave up five hits, and each of them had three strikeouts and no walks.
Gale dodged threats in the second and third innings when the Sailfish had all four of their hits against her, and Bailey was extremely active too throughout the game. She stole a hit from Brianna Parker by going into the hole in the fourth inning, and ranged up the middle to field a hard hit grounder by Parker in the seventh, once again throwing her out.
The Sailfish truly had their fill of the Florida Southern shortstop. After a triple by Hunn and infield hit by Clark in the bottom of the second, Bailey singled into right field to drive both of them in, and give Florida Southern a 2-0 lead. A double by Grimes and a single by Hunn produced another run for the Mocs in the third inning, and made it a 3-0 game.
The Moccasins tacked on three more in the sixth inning, with a double by Hunn and walk by Devin Mathews setting the table for Bailey, whose single to left then made the score 4-0. Gale and Scott followed Bailey with two more RBI singles.
Chris Donovan fell to 4-3 with the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits, with two strikeouts and two walks.
Mari Stokes had two of Palm Beach Atlantic’s five hits, and three hits in the doubleheader, moving her within four of the 200-mark for her career.
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference play on Thursday when it hosts 12th-ranked Tampa in the first of a 3-game series. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
