Mocs Drop Opener of Doubleheader At Palm Beach Atlantic

PALM BEACH GARDENS - Florida Southern recorded nine hits and scored eight runs, but allowed 15 hits and 11 runs in falling 11-8 to Palm Beach Atlantic in the first game of a doubleheader at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School.

The loss, which dropped the 16th-ranked Moccasins to 19-9 on the season, while PBA improved to 12-12-1 overall on the year.

Four Mocs finished with two hits in the game, including senior second baseman Conor Szczerba (Titusville, Fla.), who went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored three of FSC's eight runs. In addition to Szczerba, senior first baseman Trey Vavra (Menomonie, Wis.), junior third baseman Chris Dennis (Rockledge, Fla.) and redshirt sophomore rightfielder Dominic Brugnoni (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) each also had two hits in the game.

The Sailfish recorded three straight one-out singles, including a RBI infield single from Joel Buchko to score the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. The Sailfish scored its next run later in the inning as senior Brian Johnson (Oldsmar, Fla.) hit Ryan Gerber with the bases loaded to score the second run of the game.

The Mocs would get both of those runs, plus add two more runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead. All of the Mocs scoring came with two outs in the inning and following a fielding error on Gerber at shortstop. Szczerba drove the first run on a bunt single up the third base line and then junior centerfielder Keith Curcio (Sarasota, Fla.) followed with a 2-run single through the right side and Vavra brought home the fourth run on his RBI double to left center. All four of the runs would be unearned thanks to Gerber's error.

PBA had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second inning as they loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a single, a double and a walk off of Johnson, but the righthander would get out of the jam by forcing Andres Vazquez to fly out deep to the fence in left center.

FSC took advantage of another error in the third inning to score its fifth run and take a 5-2 lead. Brugnoni led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Gerber and moved to third on a wild pitch by PBA hurler Phil DiLandro and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by junior catcher Joey Miller (Sarasota, Fla.). On the play, Miller was robbed of a potential home run by Sailfish leftfielder Andres Vazquez.

The Sailfish would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as they scored five runs on five hits to take a 7-5 lead. The big hits in the inning was a 2-run single to left by Spencer Castro and a 2-run double to left center by Ethan Perla. The other run was brought home on another RBI double off the bat of Brian Walker.

PBA's lead grew to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two hits, a wild pitch from senior hurler Nick Krolczyk (Coral Springs, Fla.) and a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Drew.

FSC would pull within 8-6 in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a walk, a wild pitch and and an RBI single to left by Dennis. Dennis' single plated Szczerba, who drew a lead-off walk from PBA reliever Ryan Cota.

The Sailfish would add three runs to its lead in the bottom of the seventh inning to take an 11-6 lead thanks to back-to-back home runs off of Krolczyk. The first homer was a 2-run shot off the bat of Brian Walker and a solo homer off the bat of Chris Farrell.

FSC would score two runs in the ninth in the complete the game's scoring. In the inning, Szczerba led off the frame with a single to left and moved to second after Curcio drew a walk. Szczerba would move to third on a fly out by Vavra and would score on a fielder's choice by Dennis. The second run came home on an RBI single to left center by Brugnoni off of Cota. Brugnoni's single chased Cota from the game, but his replacement Dominic Monda came into the game and forced freshman designated hitter Scottie Withrow (Seminole, Fla.) to ground out to end the game and earn his sixth save.

Johnson (2-3) took the loss for the Mocs as he pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs (seven earned), while walking three and striking out three. Krolczyk threw 2.1 innings and allowed five hits and four runs, while walking one and fanning two.

Phil DiLandro (3-1) earned the win for the Sailfish as he pitched six innings and allowed six hits and five unearned runs, while walking one and striking out three.

The Sailfish offense was paced by Walker, who had four hits, scored two runs and drove home three runs. In addition to Walker, Farrell added three hits and three other Sailfish had two hits in the win.