Box Score WINTER PARK – Florida Southern may not be going to the postseason this year, but the Moccasins will still have a major impact on the race as it relates to other teams from the Sunshine State Conference. In their first chance to disrupt the race since the initial NCAA regional rankings were announced earlier in the week, the Moccasins scored three times in the top of the fifth inning and got another winning effort from sophomore Brandi Jones in the circle to defeat Rollins 3-1 Friday night.
After the game started an hour late due to rain and lightning, the pitchers were in total control through the first four innings with Jones (Snellville, Ga.) allowing only three hits and Rollins junior Niki Fogle surrendering just two. Both Florida Southern hits came in the top of the second when senior Jessica Lanci (Orlando, Fla.) and sophomore Hannah Loyer (Bradenton, Fla.) delivered back-to-back singles with one out but were unable to advance.
But after managing only two base runners through the first four innings, the Moccasins (19-27, 5-14) had six in the top of the fifth, including four hits, which enabled them to score three runs. Infield singles by Loyer and freshman Ashlyn Worcester (Bloomingdale, Ill.) put runners at the corners with one out for the Mocs and senior Priscilla Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.) singled into center to bring in the first run of the game. When senior Gianni Artidiello (Miami, Fla.) reached on an error the Moccasins scored another run, and senior Kylee Stearns (Lakeland, Fla.) singled in another.
Rollins (33-11, 13-9), which is ranked #3 in the South Region, fought back for one of its own in the bottom of the fifth, which started when Jones hit Sid Masso with a pitch. Two batters later, a double by Hailee Keisling brought her home. Jones also issued a walk to Brittany Johnson in the inning but avoided further trouble when Stearns made a spectacular catch in foul territory down the leftfield line to record the final out of the fifth.
The pitchers resumed control after that with both Jones and Fogle retiring the final six batters they faced. Jones allowed just four hits in the game to improve her record to 13-12. She struck out six and walked one. Fogle, who came into the game tied for second in the nation with 26 wins, fell to 26-11 as she gave up six hits and only two earned runs. She had seven strikeouts and one walk.
Loyer had two of Florida Southern's six hits, and Keisling had two of Rollins' four.
Florida Southern and Rollins will complete their 3-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. The doubleheader has been moved up to avoid potential bad weather moving in later in the afternoon.
