Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
LAKELAND â€" The Florida Southern offense erupted for a combined 27 runs as the Moccasins took both games of the doubleheader 14-5 and 13-3 on Saturday to sweep the weekend non-conference series against Albany State (2-8) at historic Henley Field.
FSC's three-game sweep was its first in non-conference action since taking all three games against North Alabama on Feb. 15-16, 2013. In addition, it was just the fourth time they have swept a three-game series since the beginning of the 2013 campaign as they also picked up three-game sweeps last season in Sunshine State Conference play against both Eckerd and Barry.
The Mocs (6-4) used a complete effort in both games as they had six players with multiple hits in game one (Box Score) and four more players with multiple hit in the nightcap (Box Score). Senior second baseman Conor Szczerba (Titusville, Fla.) and junior right fielder Dominic Brugnoni (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) led the way with five hits apiece on the day, and senior first baseman Trey Vavra (Menomonie, Wis.) collected nine RBIs including seven in the second game. The seven RBIs in the second game was two short of the single game record of nine set by Fernando Arguelles against the College of Boca Raton (now known as Lynn University) on Feb. 21, 1987.
Things got started early in the first game as FSC was able to put a 1-0 deficit behind them quickly. After a hit batsman and two walks started the bottom half of the first inning, Vavra hit a two-run double to left field. Junior third baseman Chris Dennis (Rockledge, Fla.) doubled up the score for the Mocs with a single up the middle. They would add two more runs in the inning thanks to a single to left field by junior catcher Joey Miller (Sarasota, Fla.) and a Szczerba single through the left side. FSC would bat around in the first inning by sending 11 batters to the plate.
Brugnoni would spark the offense again in the third inning with a one-out triple to left center. He would later score after a wild pitch. Brugnoni would end the game a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, which would have been the first time a Moc had accomplished that feat since Cory Jensen did so on March 4, 2012 against Florida Tech.
The fourth inning also saw the Mocs entire line-up visit home plate as they put up another four runs, this time all with two outs. Vavra would get the rally started again with a walk and, after a single by Dennis, scored on a wild pitch. Dennis would score on the next play as the catcher tried to throw behind him and pick him off at third, but the throw would ricochet off his helmet and into left field. Senior designated hitter Jimmy Correnti (Fort Myers, Fla.) reignited the fourth-inning rally as he hustled into third with a triple of his own to left center. Brugnoni sent the next pitch into right field for an RBI double. Miller would bring in Brugnoni with a single to center field. He would be left at second base, however, as Szczerba ended the frame with a fly out to center field after a single by junior shortstop Casey Eddinger (Crawfordville, Fla.).
Albany State would score two runs of their own in the top of the fifth, but FSC had an answer for that as well. A single by junior left fielder Trevor Freeman (Shalimar, Fla.) set the stage for the Mocs third triple of the game which came off the bat of Curcio. He would cross the plate after a pass ball. Dennis then walked, and advanced to third as the Rams woes continued with a wild pitch and a pass ball. Brugnoni would bring him in with a single to the shortstop.
The Mocs pitching staff would take care of the rest as they allowed just one more run in the final four innings of play. Freshman Craig Savage (Apopka, Fla.) would notch his first career win as he came in relief for the fifth and sixth innings. The final three innings would be covered by senior Reid Noah (Lakeland, Fla.), freshman A.J. Smith (Merritt Island, Fla.), and senior Steven Burnham (Valrico, Fla.).
Game two of the doubleheader started the same as the first for the FSC offense as they would send each batter to the plate again in the bottom of the first inning. With singles by Szczerba and Curcio sandwiched around a Freeman hit-by-pitch, Vavra again was presented with an opportunity to some early damage as he batted with bases-loaded and none out in the first inning for the second time. He would see a similar success as the first game as he cleared the bases with a double down the left-field line. After a Dennis single advanced him to third, Vavra would be brought in when Brugnoni singled up the middle.
ASU would do their best to mount a comeback in the top of the third as they used five hits and an error by the Mocs defense, but the wind would be taken out of their sails in the bottom half of the inning. A one-out single by Brugnoni brought up freshman catcher Kevin Fuller (Ocala, Fla.) who would get his first career hit in a big way with a two-run homer. Eddinger sent a shot to short that was too hot to handle on the next pitch, and would reach on the error. He would steal second during the next at-bat. From there, Freeman would plate him on a single to right. After another stolen base, Curcio would also reach base with the help of an error. Vavra would stay hot as he hit a three-run bomb to left field on the next pitch.
The Rams would be threatening again in the top of the fourth as they would load the bases with only one out. The inning would end in rare fashion, however, as a failed squeeze play resulted in a 3-5-6 triple play. With all the base-runners in motion, Vavra was able to make a diving catch to start the play. He then popped up and fired the ball to Dennis who tug the third-base bag before recording the final out by throwing to Eddinger. This is the first time FSC has accomplished this uncommon play since they were able to do it in the first inning of an April 7, 2009 matchup against Warner.
The Mocs would continue their success at the dish by adding another run in the bottom half of the inning. A one-out single by Eddinger, and a wild pitch that advanced him to second set up Szczerba to advance him another 90 feet with a single of his own through the left side. Freeman would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Eddinger.
They would tack on two more in the bottom of the sixth as things got started with a one-out single by Szczerba. That would cap off the first career four-hit game for the Division II National Gold Glove Award winner. Following a walk by sophomore Colton Davis (Lake Wales, Fla.), Curcio would get his second hit of the game with a single to right center. With the bases loaded for a third time, Vavra would record his seventh RBI of the game as he reached on an error by the shortstop. A walk by Dennis would bring in the final FSC run of the day as Davis crossed the plate.
A five-inning, five strikeout performance by sophomore pitcher Ben Richardson (Orlando, Fla.) was good enough to improve his record to 2-1 on the season. Fellow sophomore Stephen Brooks (Glen Allen, Va.) would strike out the side in the top of the sixth, and junior Casey Eskew (Sarasota, Fla.) would close out the game with a one-two-three seventh, including a strikeout for the final out of the game.
The Mocs will return to action this Wednesday as they travel to Saint Leo to face the 5-2 Lions in a non-conference game at Thomas B. Southard Stadium. First-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
