AIKEN, S.C. – The Florida Southern College baseball team falls short in a 5-3 loss to USC Aiken Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Pacers win the series 2-1.
The Mocs (2-4) narrowed an early deficit in the top of the eighth, but fell just short of the lead. The Pacers (3-2) built a three-run lead midway through the game and fended off a late surge by Florida Southern for the series win.
After a scoreless two innings, the Mocs scored first as
Jeff Liquori landed home from an RBI single by
Connor Berry in the top of the third. The Pacers responded with two runs in the bottom of the third and a 2-1 lead.
USC Aiken continued to slowly build a lead with runs in fifth and sixth as the Mocs entered the eighth down 4-1.
Seth Cannady singled to right field with one out in the eighth to help build some momentum. As
Jared DeSantolo was walked,
Duncan Hunter responded with a single of his own and bases loaded for the Mocs. Florida Southern scored two runs to end the eighth and down by one, before the Pacers notched one more run and 5-3 lead heading into the last inning.
Despite back-to-back batters hit by pitch in the top of the ninth, the Mocs left two on base as the Pacers held on for the 5-3 win. After an impressive five games in a row with home runs, the Mocs kept their six hits of the day inside the park, compared to 11 hits by the Pacers.
Hunter led the Mocs with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, including a triple. Berry notched an RBI to start the Mocs only lead of the game. USC Aiken's Louie Smith gets credited with the win as Austin Hohm entered in for the save and prevent any Moccasin ninth inning surge.
UP NEXT
The Mocs return to Lakeland before a short trip to St. Petersburg to face Eckerd College on Tuesday in a rescheduled match set for a 6 p.m. start.
