LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern baseball team improved to 13-9 on the season (11-8 SSC) after sweeping their senior day double header against the seventh-ranked University of Tampa Spartans. The Mocs had 20 combined hits on the day, four of which were home runs, as FSC became the first team to win a series against Tampa in the 2021 season. The Spartans fell to 16-4 overall following the double header.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
Florida Southern 12, Tampa 5
- The Spartans came out swinging scoring three runs in the top of the first against Mocs starter Jarrod Cande.
- FSC promptly answered back with a five-run bottom of the first, highlighted by a grand slam from left fielder Nick Wells. After taking the lead, FSC would not trail for the remainder of the double header.
- Both teams would score a run in their respective half's of the second inning.
- FSC would add two more runs in the fifth, as senior Zach Scott and Wells both hit RBI singles.
- In the sixth, the Mocs would plate three more men as Scott would hit a 3-run home run to right field.
- Scott would drive in his sixth run of the game in the eighth as Conner Berry scored on a sacrifice fly.
- Cande would earn the win for FSC, improving his record to 5-0.
- Senior Thomas Spinelli threw three innings of relief, allowing no earned runs to score as he and Cande were all the Mocs needed on the mound.
Game Two
Florida Southern 7, Tampa 4 (F/7)
- The Mocs jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Scott and right fielder Tor Sehnert both had RBI singles for FSC.
- Tampa answered back with a run off of Mocs starter JJ Niekro in the second. Niekro would allow just the one run over his three innings of work.
- Scott would homer for the third time of the series as he hit a two-run shot in the third inning. FSC would score another run on an error and the Mocs would lead 6-1 at the end of the third.
- Berry drove in Jeff Liquori on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, giving the Mocs an extra insurance run.
- Tampa threated late, scoring in both the fifth and sixth innings, cutting the Mocs lead to three.
- Left hander Dawson Lane would earn his first save of the season, stranding the tying run at the plate in the seventh.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- With the win, FSC improves to 115-105 all time against the Spartans
- FSC holds the advantage in Lakeland 66-46
- UT holds the series advantage in Tampa 54-45
- Conner Berry extended his on base streak to 14 games
- Zach Scott went 6-for-11 over the series with three home runs, 10 RBI, and six runs scored. He a home run in each game against the Spartans.
- Vaun Brown has scored at least one run in 20 of the teams 22 games this season.
UP NEXT
The team is back in action on Wednesday as they welcome the Florida Tech Panthers to Henley Field with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
