LAKELAND, Fla – The Florida Southern College baseball team game one rally falls short as the Mocs lose their doubleheader against Augustana University Saturday afternoon at Historic Henley Field.
The Mocs (10-8, 4-2 SSC) were down by two into the bottom of the ninth in game one, but only score one in a 7-6 game one loss. The Vikings (4-1, 0-0 NSIC) scored five runs in the third inning of game two and maintained the lead in seven innings game two for a 6-3 win.
GAME ONE
The Mocs were first to score, with an RBI single by
Duncan Hunter in the first inning to bring home
Jeff Liquori. Augustana responded with a score in the top of the third to tie the game at one. Howell was the RBI sacrifice fly to send Ballweg home on the tying run. Florida Southern countered with two runs off two hits in the bottom of the third with a big triple by
Ahmad Fitts to send Hunter and
Nathan Chevalier to score and 3-1 score.
The Vikings took the fourth inning with four runs scored on four hits to retake the lead 5-3. The game was scoreless for the next two innings before Chevalier hit an RBI single for
Grady Maguire to come home. The Mocs tallied the next run to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth as
Ryan Jenkins came home on an error by left field.
A nail-biting ninth inning for both teams as Augustana scored two runs on one hit and an error and 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. The Mocs went to work right away with a single by Liquori and another single by Hunter. A pair of wild pitches sent Liquori home to bring Florida Southern within two, but Mocs unable to finish as Vikings hold on 7-6.
GAME TWO
Another quick start for the Mocs as they were first to score in the bottom of the first from an RBI single by
Connor Berry to send Liquori home and 1-0 score. A scoreless second led to five runs by the Vikings in the fifth inning as another early deficit for the Mocs. Augustana had four hits in the third with RBI singles by Barth and Olson before a bases loaded walk led to another two scores and 5-1 lead.
The Mocs fought back in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Maguire for
Seth Cannady to score. Florida Southern left one on base in the fourth and a 5-2 score. Scoreless in the fifth, Augustana had four hits, including an RBI single by Mix, but left two on base as the Mocs escaped further runs scored.
Florida Southern went into the bottom of the seventh down by four, but undeterred as singles by Chevalier and Hunter created a one-out and bases loaded situation with Liquori already on base from a walk. An RBI single by Fitts added one score for the Mocs, but the Vikings hold on for the 6-3 win and take the doubleheader.
The Mocs held the advantage in hits for game one, 10-to-9, but game two went to Augustana who outhit the Mocs 12-to-9. Augustana, registering votes in the NCBWA Division II poll, stayed consistent throughout the game, with Florida Southern errors a factor in the game two win.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will have game three of their series against Augustana tomorrow afternoon, set for a 1 p.m. start at Historic Henley Field.
