SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Florida Southern College unable to come out with a road win after a 7-2 loss against the Saint Leo University Lions during a midweek matchup at the Thomas B. Southard Stadium Tuesday night.
The Mocs (14-13, 5-5 SSC) had a two-run homer in the top of the ninth by
Jeff Liquori but not enough in the loss. The Lions (19-9, 7-6 SSC) went up early in the first during the non-conference matchup and did not give up the lead to keep the Mocs scoreless for a 7-2 win.
Florida Southern started the top of the first inning with a hit by
Jordan Gaynor but unable to capitalize as the only hit in for the next five innings. Saint Leo tallied three hits in the bottom of the first with two scores off an RBI single by Crail and RBI double by Sparling for an early 2-0 lead.
Both teams stayed scoreless for the next two innings, before the Mocs took advantage of two errors to send
Jared DeSantolo and
Duncan Hunter to second and third. However, the Lions kept Florida Southern at bay with two left on and still a 2-0 Saint Leo lead into the bottom of the fourth. Roa responded with a two-run homer for a 4-0 lead through four innings.
Another RBI single for the Lions, this time by Roa, extended the deficit to five as the Mocs continued to struggle getting on base. A double by
Ryan Jenkins brought Florida Southern in scoring position as he would advance to third at the next at-bat. A wild pitch by Saint Leo allowed the Mocs an opportunity to score, but Jenkins was barely tagged out at home in the process to stay down with a 5-0 score.
Gaynor had his second hit of the day which was followed by a hit from Hunter in the top of the eighth as the Mocs looked to gain some momentum.
Connor Berry was hit by pitch for a bases loaded situation, but the Lions escaped, leaving all three Moccasins on base. Another two-run homer by the Lions, this time by Jansen, extended the Saint Leo lead to seven. Liquori hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth after Jenkins was walked, but the Lions held on for the 7-2 win.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will return home to prepare for a conference series against Florida Tech this weekend, beginning with a 6 p.m. game on Friday. A pregame ceremony honoring members of the 1971 and 1972 National Championship Moccasin teams will take place before Friday's game during this weekend's Baseball Champion Reunion.
