LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College win their home opening series with a 3-1 win over Saint Leo Lions Sunday afternoon at Historic Henley Field. The Mocs won game one and game three for the series win.
The Mocs (5-5, 2-1) went up in the third and never relinquished the lead, including a solo home run by
Connor Berry. Saint Leo (7-5, 1-2) hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth, but Florida Southern continued on for the 3-1 win.
After keeping the Lions at bay in the first inning, the Mocs got on base after the Saint Leo outfield lost the ball in the sun, leading
Jeff Liquori to make it to second but no runs. Scoreless through the second inning, Florida Southern had three hits in the third as
Julio Cortez, Liquori, and
Nathan Chevalier singled for Cortez tally the run and 1-0 lead.
Florida Southern continued to tally the hits as
Seth Cannady and
Ahmad Fitts each had singles.
Grady Maguire was walked for bases loaded, which a wild pitch brought Cannady home and 2-0 Moccasin lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Lions nearly scored after a runner on first and third but left both on base with fantastic fielding by Maguire and a split save by Liquori for the double-play.
Another bases loaded situation for the Mocs with two-outs, but unable to convert this time as the Lions escape, down by two into the sixth inning. As
Brant Brown continued to keep the Lions scoreless from the mound, Berry smashed a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Lions staged a comeback after Adrien Roa hit a home run and 3-1 Florida Southern lead.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will head to Miami Shores for a weekend series against Barry University, beginning on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
