Mocs Rally In the Bottom of the 12th to Defeat 22nd Ranked Barry

LAKELAND â€" A three run, top of the ninth, by 22nd-ranked Barry forced extra innings here at Henley Field, in game-one of a three game series, but Florida Southern, who was down 5-4 in the bottom of the 12th, used a two-run 12th inning rally, topped off by a walk-off single by Kyle Jackson, to earn a 6-5 win and stay undefeated in conference action.

The Mocs, who improved to 9-11 on the season and 4-0 in Sunshine State Conference play, used a strong pitching performance by starter Clay Chapman to take a 4-1 lead into the ninth inning. The Buccaneers, who fell to 17-8, 4-3 in the SSC, were down to their last out, with a man on first, when they would start their rally. A fielding error at first base by closer Nate Carter kept the Bucs’ inning alive. The bases then would get loaded after a single by Barry’s Joe Iorio. A bases clearing double to centerfield by Tim Blackmon would tie the score up at 4-4 before Carter and the Mocs were able to get the third and final out of the inning.

Barry would then strike first in extra innings, this time in the top of the 12th as pinch-hitter Jay Bellot would lead-off the inning with a single through the right side and then advanced over to second on a sacrifice bunt by the next Barry hitter. Bellot would then get to third on a balk by Mocs’ pitcher Steven Burnham before scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Mocs would get the next batter to fly out for the final out of the inning.

Down 5-4 and with their backs against the wall the Mocs would rally in the bottom of the 12th. Conor Szczerba would lead off the inning reaching on a walk and then be immediately moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Gibbs. After a pitching change by the Bucs, Keith Curcio would reach of a fielding error; the error would give Szczerba the opening to tie the game back at 5-5 while Curcio advanced to second. Coming up with the biggest hit of the night was Kyle Jackson who hit a walk-off single scoring Curcio and winning the game for the Mocs.

Earning the win in relief was Burnham who improved to 2-1 on the season. The loser for the Bucs was Tyler Kinley, who pitched one-third inning giving up one hit and one unearned run.

The game started out with Chapman walking the first Bucs’ batter, who would come around to score later in the first inning. Even though Chapman would give up one run in the first inning, he would be stellar the remainder of the game; pitching eight full innings, allowing only four hits and fanning six.

The Mocs would get on the board late in the bottom of the sixth after a two-run blast over the left-center field wall by Dominic Brugnoni. FSC would add another run in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh Colin Kish would lead-off the inning with a triple to center-field. Kish would then score on a passed ball by the Bucs’ catcher. Sczcerba would lead-off the eighth with a walk and move over to second on a sacrifice bunt from Gibbs.  The Bucs would then intentionally walk Curcio before Curcio and Sczcerba pulled off a double steal to get themselves in scoring position. The fourth run of the game for the Mocs would come on a ground out to the pitcher by Brugnoni; after being looked off by the pitcher, Szczerba would go ahead and take off for home after the Bucs’ pitcher threw the ball to first to get Brugnoni out on the play.

Leading the Mocs on the offensive side was Gibbs and Curcio, who each went 2-of-4 for the day. Even though Brugnoni went 1-of-6 at the plate, he tallied three RBI during the game. Also having a decent day at the plate was Christian Magno, who went 2-of-2 after coming into the game defensively in the top of the eighth.

The Mocs will continue their three game series with the Bucs tomorrow in a double-header with game-one scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.