Box Score SAINT LEO - Florida Southern concluded non-conference play here Tuesday evening by falling 9-4 to Saint Leo at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
The Moccasins, who fell to 19-20 overall with the setback, were done in by a four run third inning by the Lions that gave SLU (32-11 overall record) a 6-3 lead, which they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the night.
On the night, the Mocs offense recorded 13 hits, including a 3-for-5 night at the plate from senior third baseman Chris Dennis (Rockledge, Fla.) and junior rightfielder Jhalan Jackson (Winter Haven, Fla.). Jackson also finished the night with two of his team's 4 RBIs to push his season total to 55 on the year.
In addition to Dennis and Jackson, senior shortstop Casey Eddinger (Crawfordville, Fla.) recorded two hits and drove home a run against the Lions.
FSC recorded four extra base hits on the night and left nine runners stranded on base. SLU also had four extra base hits and stranded 10 runners on base.
The Mocs jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the second thanks to three hits as they scored their runs on an RBI single to center by junior leftfielder Dominic Brugnoni (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) and an RBI single Eddinger off of SLU starting pitcher Brandon Mumaw.
SLU would answer in the bottom of the second inning with two unearned runs thanks to a throwing error by junior hurler Stephen Brooks (Glen Allen, Va.) on a ball hit off the bat of Bobby Twitty to tie the game at 2-all.
FSC, though, pushed in front 3-2 in the top of the third inning thanks to a triple by Dennis and an RBI single to left by Jackson. The single by Jackson extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games.
The Lions would take advantage of two walks, two hit batsmen and two hits to score four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-3 lead.
Trailing 6-3, the Mocs pulled within 6-4 in the top of the fifth inning thanks to doubles from junior second baseman Shawn Sanders (Citra, Fla.) and Jackson to plate its fourth run of the game. The RBI was Jackson's second of the game and 55th of the season.
SLU would add two more runs in the sixth inning thanks to two doubles and a single off of sophomore reliever A.J. Smith (Merritt Island, Fla.) to push its lead to 8-4.
The Lions lead grew to 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning as they recorded three hits against senior reliever Jerrod Flanagan (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and scored its run on an RBI single by Dale Irving.
In the eighth, the Mocs put its first two runners on base thanks to back-to-back singles by Jackson and sophomore first baseman Jason Sierra (Sarasota, Fla.), but couldn't get any runs across the plate as Lion reliever Josh Mollett would retire the next three Mocs in order to keep the score, 9-4.
The Mocs had another chance in the ninth as Eddinger reached on a lead off single and Dennis reached on a two-out single through the right side, but once again, Mollett wouldn't allow any runs as he struck the side to seal his team's victory.
While FSC recorded 13 hits in the game, the Lions finished with 12 hits, including a 3-for-3 night at the plate from Irving. Dylan Harris, Jordan Taylor, Taylor Perez and Lane Stancil each had two hits in the Lions victory.
Brooks (1-3) pitched 2.2 innings and allowed three hits and six runs (four earned runs), while walking four and striking out none.
Mumaw (5-0), who was making his second start of the season, pitched five innings and allowed eight hits and four runs, while striking out seven and walking none. Mollett pitched the final four innings and allowed five hits and struck out five to record his first save of the season.
FSC will return to action this coming weekend as they host Barry in a three-game SSC series at Henley Field. The series will begin on Friday, April 24 with a 6 p.m. game, before playing a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m.
