Mocs Score Season-High 13 Runs in Home Win Over Warner

LAKELAND - Florida Southern took out its frustrations on a difficult start to the 2013 season here Tuesday evening against Warner as the Moccasins recorded season highs in both hits and runs scored en route to earning a 13-5 non-conference victory over the Royals at Henley Field.

In the game, the Mocs (1-7 on the season) recorded 13 hits as five players had two hits and five scored two runs in the game. The 13 hits bettered the previous season high of eight set against both Incarnate Word last Saturday and against West Florida on Feb. 2, while the 13 runs bettered the season high of seven set against Incarnate Word in the first game of last Saturday's doubleheader.

The Mocs with two hits in the game included junior second baseman Conor Szczerba (Titusville, Fla.), senior shortstop Kyle Gibbs (Sarasota, Fla.), sophomore third baseman Keith Curcio (Sarasota, Fla.), redshirt junior designated hitter T.J. Kuban (Valencia, Pa.) and redshirt senior rightfielder Colin Kish (Philadelphia, Pa.). In addition, Gibbs, Kuban, Kish, junior centerfielder J.J. Downum (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) and freshman leftfielder Christian Magno (Longwood, Fla.) all scored two runs on the night.

Szczerba, Gibbs and Kuban each drove home two runs and Gibbs stole two bases in the victory.

FSC, who was playing its second home game of the season, jumped in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout by senior first baseman Kyle Jackson (Avon Park, Fla.). Jackson's groundout scored Gibbs from third base after he reached on a single and then stole both second and third base before scoring. Jackson finished the night with a team-high 3 RBIs.

The Mocs added to its run total in the second inning as they scored four runs on two hits and took advantage of two Royal errors to push out to a 5-0 lead. In the inning, senior catcher Brad Carlton (Arcadia, Fla.) drove in the first run on his RBI single to center and Downum followed with a run scoring single up the middle and Szczerba made it 4-0 on another RBI single. The fourth Moc run was driven in on a sacrifice fly to center by Curcio. The RBI was Curcio's team leading seventh of the season.

The Mocs offense would explode for six runs on five hits in the third inning to take an 11-0 lead. The big hits in the inning were two-run doubles by Gibbs and Jackson and an RBI single by Kish, who was making his first start of the season for the Mocs. In the inning, the Mocs sent 10 batters to the plate.

FSC's 10 run lead would be more than enough runs for its pitching staff as first year coach Lance Niekro threw five pitchers on the night. Freshman Ben Richardson (Orlando, Fla.) was the starter as he threw four innings and allowed five hits and two runs, while walking four and fanning two. The winning pitcher was junior Steven Burnham (Valrico, Fla.), as the Polk State transfer threw two innings and allowed one hit and walked one to record his first career victory as a Moc.

Warner (2-6 on the season) would prevent a shutout in the fourth inning as they used two hits and scored two runs on a two-run double to right field by Bryan Langston off of Richardson.

The Mocs would add to its run total in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kuban drilled a C.J. Gonzalez offering over the left field fence for a two-run homer to give the Mocs a 13-2 lead. The homer was the first of the season for both Kuban and the Mocs. Kuban finished the night 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and 2 RBIs.

Warner would plate three more runs in the seventh inning, including a two-run infield single by Nick Gonzalez off of sophomore reliever Austin Barnett (Lakeland, Fla.). Barnett was the third pitcher of the game for the Mocs.

The final two pitchers for the Mocs in the game, junior lefthander Cameron Grimsley (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) and senior Austin Jackson (Deltona, Fla.) threw 2.1 innings and allowed no hits and combined to strike out three Royal hitters.

Warner was led by Johnny Groubert, who had three of the Royals nine hits, while Justin Burgess and Logan Hunter each added two hits in the loss.

Jeff Jacobsen (0-1), who was the first of six Royal pitchers in the game, took the loss as he threw 2.0 innings and allowed seven hits and seven runs (five earned), while walking one and fanning none.  

The Mocs will remain home this weekend for a three-game series against North Alabama. The teams will play a single game on Friday, Feb. 15 beginning at 7 p.m., before concluding the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 16 begining at 1 p.m. North Alabama is one of three teams the Mocs play in the month of February that advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament a season ago.