AIKEN, S.C. – The Florida Southern College baseball team ties a school record seven home runs for an exciting 13-8 win over the University of South Carolina Aiken to even the series Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Mocs (2-3) hit seven home runs for the first time since May 5, 2007, when the Moccasins sent seven over the fence in a win at Lynn. The Pacers (2-2) had two homers themselves, but Florida Southern sustained the lead in the final innings.
Jeff Liquori and
Duncan Hunter each had two home runs in the game.
USC Aiken found themselves up 4-0 in the first inning, before the Mocs were able to respond with their first home run of the afternoon, a two-run homer by Liquori in the third inning. The Pacers countered with a solo homer of their own and 5-2 lead to start the fourth. Hunter had consecutive at-bat home runs in the fourth and fifth inning to take the lead 6-5 at the midpoint of the fifth inning.
Liquori smashed his second two-run homer of the game to start the sixth inning as
Connor Berry added a solo homer. USC Aiken again responded with a home run, but the Mocs still had the edge in a 9-8 ball game into the seventh inning. A three-hit game by Liquori brought
Tor Sehnert home and 10-8 game before
Grady Maguire joined in for a two-run home run into right field.
Joe Raffaele hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth as
Ryan Langford earned the save to prevent any Pacers comeback.
USC Aiken held a slight advantage in hits, 14-13, against the Mocs as both left eight on base. Nine total home runs between the two teams nearly ties a 10-home run school record between two teams from a 1988 game against Armstrong State.
The win goes to
Aric McAtee, who tallied four strikeouts before
Logan Verrino and Langford held the Pacers at bay in the final innings and seal the Mocs victory.
UP NEXT
The final game of the road series against USC Aiken will take place tomorrow, set for a 1 p.m. start.
