Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Senior Tim Sabo took advantage of his first collegiate start as Florida Southern College baseball used strong pitching to defeat Eckerd, 5-1, in a non-conference game on Tuesday night in St. Petersburg. The No. 30 Moccasins (4-0) relied on Sabo and a Moc bullpen that combined to allow only three hits and no earned runs to defeat the Tritons (1-3).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both sides earned the bulk of their runs in the second inning, as the Moccasins starting a rally in the top of the frame with a Zach Diewert single up the middle. A Christian Maglich double down the right-field line advanced both runners into scoring position and a wild pitch would score Diewert. Jarrod Cande earned a walk from a seven-pitch at-bat and advanced to second. Cody Duke earned his first two RBI of the season with a single up the middle that scored the two RISP to give the Moccasins a 3-1 lead.
- Eckerd got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as Grande would earn a single and advance to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, scoring on a Ballard sacrifice fly.
- Cande hit his first long ball of the year in the top of the fourth inning, blasting a full-count pitch to deep left to give the Moccasins a 4-1 lead.
- The Moccasins nearly added more in the fifth. Kyler Marquis reached on a fielder's choice and then, after stealing second, reached third on a wild pitch. Jacob Teter was intentionally walked for the first of two times, but a Zach Scott line drive to first base ended the inning.
- Sabo finished his start after the fifth inning, totaling just one hit, one run, two walks and one strikeout in his first collegiate start.
- Maglich doubled for the fourth time this season in the sixth inning, scoring Diewert and giving the Moccasins a 5-1 advantage.
- The bullpen continued its strong start to the season with four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out seven Tritons. Thomas Spinelli struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to seal the 5-1 win for the Mocs.
- Tim Sabo earned the win in his first collegiate start, while Jake Sanderson was given the loss for Eckerd.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Teter has only five at-bats in his last three games, partly because he has walked nine times in as many games. The junior long-ball threat was intentionally walked two times on Tuesday, adding to his one IB on Saturday against West Florida. His nine walks are first in the conference and are nearly double the next closest player.
- Two Moccasins have a slugging percentage above .900 through the first four games: Maglich and Diewert. The former has earned a hit in every game this year, is hitting .467/.529/.933 and leads the team with seven hits, four doubles and six RBI. The latter leads the team with a .455/.538/1.091 line, five runs and two homers.
- The Moccasin bullpen has been phenomenal to start the season. The bullpen boasts a 2.00 ERA in 18 innings with 14 strikeouts and 12 hits. Finally, the squad maintains a 1.28 WHIP through four games.
UP NEXT:
The Moccasins will travel to Columbus, Ga. for a three-game series against Columbus State from Feb. 7-9.
