Moccasins Fall in Home Opener to Saint Leo

LAKELAND - Florida Southern opened the home portion of its 2013 schedule here Tuesday evening at Henley Field by falling 8-4 in a non-conference match-up against Sunshine State Conference rival Saint Leo.

The loss, which dropped the 32nd-ranked Moccasins to 0-4 on the young season, spoiled the impressive home debut of junior second baseman Conor Szczerba (Titusville, Fla.) as the lead-off hitter scored two runs, had two hits and stole three bases on the night. Szczerba, who is a transfer from Polk State College, has now reached base safely in all four games this season and is hitting .385 on the season.
 
In addition to Szczerba, sophomore leftfielder Keith Curcio (Sarasota, Fla.) also had a strong night at the plate for the Mocs as he went 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs. The 3-for-4 night at the plate lifted Curcio's average to .583 on the season as he has recorded a team-best seven hits and has driven in six of the Mocs nine runs.

The Lions, who improved to 2-2 with the win, scored the game's first run in the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout by Danny Torres. Torres' groundout came one batter after Bobby Twitty hit a double to right field that put runners on second and third off of Moc junior starter Alex Norris (Clearwater, Fla.).

Norris, who was making his Moccasin debut, pitched 5.1 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs, but two of those were earned thanks two Moc errors. In addition, Norris, who pitched the past two seasons at Polk State, struck out three and walked one to earn the loss.

The Mocs answered the Lions in the bottom of the first inning as Szczerba led off with a single up the middle and then stole both second and third base, before scoring on an RBI groundout by Curcio to tie the game at 1-all.

SLU retook the lead in the third inning as Frank Rawdow led off the inning with a hit by pitch and advanced to third on a single to right by Chris Newcomb and scored on a groundout by Bobby Twitty. The Lions added its third run of the game later in the inning as Newcomb stole third base and scored on a throwing error by senior catcher Brad Carlton (Arcadia, Fla.).

The Lions extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning as Taed Moses led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored when Taylor Perez reached on a fielding error by junior third baseman Jimmy Correnti (Fort Myers, Fla.) to keep the inning alive. Correnti, who played in his first game of the season Tuesday night, committed two of FSC's four errors in the game.

FSC used singles by Curcio and senior first baseman Kyle Jackson (Avon Park, Fla.) to plate its second run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Curcio led off with an infield single to extend his hitting streak to seven straight games dating to last season. He stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single redshirt junior designated hitter T.J. Kuban (Valencia, Pa.) to pull the Mocs within 4-2.

SLU would add to its lead in the seventh inning as Michael Revell drove home Newcomb with a single to right field off of junior reliever Cameron Grimsley (Ponte Vedra, Fla.). Revell's single gave the Lions a 5-2 lead.

The Lions lead grew to 6-2 in the top of the eighth inning as Perez reached on a two-out error in right field by junior Tim McCormick (Fairfax, Va.) and would score thanks to two wild pitches by senior reliever Jack Sterritt (Ponta Vedra, Fla.). Sterritt was one of five pitchers used by the Mocs in the game.

FSC would mount a comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning redshirt junior centerfielder J.J. Downum (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) drew a lead-off walk from SLU reliever Tyrone Miller. Following Downum's walk, Szczerba delivered a single to put runners on first and third with one out. Downum would score on an RBI single by Curcio that pushed Szczerba to third base. Jackson would make the score 6-4 as he drove Szczerba home on a sacrifice fly to left field. Miller (1-0) would get out of the jam as he forced Kuban to line out to second base to end the inning.

Miller, who relieved SLU starter Brandon Terry in the fourth inning, threw 4.2 innings and allowed three hits and two runs, while walking two and fanning two to collect the victory.

SLU tacked on two more runs in the ninth inning thanks to two hits and an error to push its lead to 8-4.

In the bottom the ninth, Matthew Hewitt retired the Mocs in order to close the game.

Newcomb finished with three hits and four runs scored for the Lions, while Revell and Ryan Brnovich each added two hits. 

The Mocs will return to action this coming weekend as they travel to San Antonio, Texas, for a three-game series at Incarnate Word. The teams will open the series with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 9, before playing a single game on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m. EST.