Mocs Record Season Highs in Runs, Hits in Series Opening Win at Palm Beach Atlantic

PALM BEACH GARDENS - Florida Southern brought out its offense here Friday evening in its series opener against Palm Beach Atlantic as the 16th-ranked Moccasins recorded a season-high 21 hits and scored a season-high 24 runs in its 24-5 victory over the Sailfish in non-conference action at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School.

The 24 runs scored were the most by the Moccasins since scoring 22 runs in a 22-4 win in Lakeland against Pace on Feb. 21, 2010 and the 21 hits were the most by the Mocs since collecting 20 hits in an 18-0 win in Lakeland over Lincoln Memorial on Feb. 10, 2012.

With the win, the Mocs improve to 19-8 overall on the season, while PBA falls to 11-12-1 on the year. The two teams will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22 scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

The Mocs scored multiple runs in five innings, including scoring eight runs in the fourth inning and scored five runs each in both the eighth and ninth innings. FSC also scored four runs in the third and two runs in the first inning.

On the night, six Mocs recorded at least two hits, including junior third baseman Chris Dennis (Rockledge, Fla.) going 5-for-7 at the plate with four runs scored and 4 RBIs, while junior centerfielder Keith Curcio (Sarasota, Fla.), senior first baseman Trey Vavra (Menomonie, Wis.), sophomore rightfielder Dominic Brugnoni (St. Clair Shores, Fla.), junior catcher Joey Miller (Sarasota, Fla.) and junior shortstop Casey Eddinger (Crawfordville, Fla.) each had two hits in the win. In fact, every Moc that had an at-bat in the game, expect for junior Kyle Richards (Groton, Conn.), recorded at least one hit.  

With his five hits, Dennis is the first Moccasin to record five hits in a single since Mike Snyder had five hits against Rollins on May 5, 2012. In that game, Snyder went 5-for-5 at the plate with three singles and two doubles in a 14-3 Moccasin win in the second game of a doubleheader against the Tars.

Of those 21 hits, the Mocs recorded five extra-base hits, including two triples, two home runs and a double.

The Mocs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI double by Dennis and an RBI single by freshman designated hitter Scottie Withrow (Seminole, Fla.). The Mocs could have gotten another run in the inning, but senior second baseman Conor Szczerba (Titusville, Fla.) was thrown out trying to steal second after he had led off the game with a single to left.

PBA would cut FSC's lead in half in the bottom of the second inning as Ryan Drew drilled a pitch from senior Clay Chapman (Orlando, Fla.) over the wall in left center for his first home run of the season. The home run snapped a streak of 21 consecutive batters retired by Chapman dating to the fourth inning of last Friday's series opener against Lynn.

FSC would get that run back, plus three other runs in the top of the third inning to push its lead to 6-1. The big hit in the inning was a 3-run homer from Brugnoni. The homer by Brugnoni was his second of the season. FSC's other run came home on a RBI single to center by Dennis. In the inning, FSC put its first four runners on base thanks to three hits and a walk.

The Mocs blew the game open in the fourth inning as they sent 13 batters to the plate and recorded six hits and scored eight runs to take a 14-1 lead in the game. The scoring started on a two-run triple by Vavra and Dennis followed Vavra with another triple to score the third run of the inning. Brugnoni would follow with an RBI single and after PBA reliever Matt Bell walked Miller and senior leftfielder J.J. Downum (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) to load the bases, Eddinger drove home the fifth run on a single to left center. After Szczerba struck out for the second out, Curcio delivered a two-run single to right center and the Mocs concluded the scoring in the inning on an RBI by Vavra. In the inning, Vavra had three RBIs, while Curcio had two RBIs.

PBA would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning on a one-out solo home run by Joel Buchko off of Chapman.

Following Buchko's homer, Chapman (3-2) would retire 10 of the final 12 batters he would face before being relieved after seven innings by sophomore Jake Popovich (Danville, Calif.). Chapman, who is the reigning NCBWA South Region and Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week, had another solid outing on the mound as he pitched seven innings and allowed five hits and two runs, while striking out seven and walking none. In 51.1 innings of work this season, Chapman has recorded 55 strikeouts and has walked just 14 opposing batters.

The Mocs would have just one base runner over the next three innings, before sending 10 batters to the plate in the eighth and scoring five runs thanks to four hits. The Mocs got the scoring started in the inning on a 2-run homer to left by Miller and after loading the bases thanks to two singles and a hit batsman, Curcio drove home the third run as he drew a bases loaded walk from Sailfish reliever Eric Russell. The next run was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Vavra and Dennis capped the scoring with an RBI single to right center.

PBA would score its third run of the game in the bottom of the eighth thanks to an RBI groundout by Tyler Parker off of Popovich, who pitched the eighth inning. In that one inning, he allowed one hit and one run, while walking one and striking out one.

FSC would plate five more runs in the top of the ninth inning thanks to three hits and a fielding error by Parker at second base. The big hit in the inning was a 2-run single to left field by sophomore Christian Magno (Longwood, Fla.), who replaced Withrow as a pinch hitter in the eighth and then stayed in the game as the designated hitter.

The Sailfish would complete the scoring in the bottom of the ninth inning as they plated two unearned runs thanks to a throwing error by junior leftfielder Trevor Freeman. Freeman's error came on a double by Drew off of sophomore reliever Stephen Brooks (Glen Allen, Va.), who replaced Popovich on the mound in the ninth.

PBA finished the night with seven hits, including Drew going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to pace the Sailfish.

The Sailfish also committed three errors and they walked 13 Moccasin hitters in the loss.

Alex Greener (0-6) was the losing pitcher for the Sailfish as he pitched three innings and allowed 11 hits and 11 runs, all of which were earned. In addition, he walked five and struck out one.