Box Score MIAMI SHORES – An extra-base hit by junior Maggie Roberts produced two runs and gave Florida Southern the initial lead, but Barry used a pair of 2-run extra-base hits afterward to come from behind and defeat the Moccasins 4-2 in the opener of their 3-game series.
Both teams scored twice in the first inning before each team had two more base runners in the second without scoring. The two Florida Southern runs scored on a double by Roberts (Lakeland, Fla.), and the two Barry runs scored on a home run by Dee Espinosa. In the top of the second though, the Mocs were unable to score after getting consecutive 1-out singles from seniors Kylee Stearns (Lakeland, Fla.) and Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.), and the Bucs left two on base after a leadoff walk and infield single by Hunter Mars.
It was another 2-spot in the bottom of the fourth that gave Barry the lead, even after Moccasin sophomore pitcher Brandi Jones (Snellville, Ga.) had struck out the first two Buccaneers of the inning. A bouncing single up the middle by Ashley Fernandez got the Bucs started before Mars walked and Megan Copeland put down a bunt single that loaded the bases. Alayna Gallagher then poked one to the opposite field that dropped just inside the leftfield line for a double, scoring Fernandez and Mars for a 4-2 lead.
It took until the bottom of the fifth before either pitcher got a 1-2-3 inning, with Jones getting help from Leah Pemberton (Valrico, Fla.). The junior second baseman made the play of the game by going up the middle to field a grounder hit by Kelly Martinez. Pemberton made the throw back to first across her body to get the out, which helped Jones retire the final seven batters she faced.
Barry pitcher Haley Wiseman was on a similar streak until Pemberton kept the Mocs' hopes alive with a single with two out in the top of the seventh. Wiseman got the final out though to finish the game, giving the freshman a 9-2 record on the season. She allowed six hits, two of them by Pemberton, walked four and struck out nine.
Jones fell to 7-5, though she matched Wiseman with only six hits allowed. She struck out six and walked three.
Florida Southern (11-12, 0-4 Sunshine State Conference) and Barry (16-5, 4-0) wrap up their 3-game series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
