TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball won their series against No. 2 Tampa after splitting the doubleheader Saturday afternoon with the Spartans at UT Baseball Field. The Mocs won the Friday night game 5-0.
The Mocs (26-18, 17-7 SSC) alternated the lead in the first game, with Tampa getting the upper hand with a walk-off bunt in the ninth for a 4-3 Moccasin loss. The Spartans (33-8, 17-4 SSC) took the momentum into the second game as they went up 2-1 in the first inning, but the rest was all Florida Southern as they dominated the latter half of the game to win 7-2 and take the series 2-1.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, TAMPA 4
The Mocs battled for the first three innings as both teams went scoreless and only two hits between the two teams. Florida Southern was first to score, with a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The inning started with a single by
Duncan Hunter to center field before he was out on a
Jeff Liquori fielder's choice. Liquori stole second to get in scoring position, as a big single by
Seth Cannady brought Liquori home.
Aric McAtee managed to keep the Spartans at bay before an RBI single by Sullivan tied the game at one in the bottom of the sixth. Despite the run, McAtee struck out Lorenzo to keep three Spartans on base. Florida Southern responded with another run to retake the lead off an RBI single by
Nick Wells to bring
Grady Maguire home and 2-1 FSC lead in the top of the seventh.
Again trading scores, Tampa scored from an RBI single by Lala, but
Collin Camarigg came in to relieve and for consecutive innings leave three Spartans on base.
Jared DeSantolo hit an RBI single in the top of the eighth for a 3-2 Moccasin lead as Tampa answered with a tying run after a throwing error. Tied at three in the ninth, the Mocs were unable to tally a hit as another error put the Spartans in scoring position for Ehrhard to hit the walk-off bunt to win the game for Tampa.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 7, TAMPA 2
After a lengthy break in between games due to an umpire change, the Mocs kicked right into gear with two hits to start the first inning, including an RBI double by
Nick Wells for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the first off back-to-back RBI singles by Lyons and Nunez. Despite the runs, Tampa left two on base to prevent any further damage.
Another scary moment for the Mocs as Tampa had the bases loaded off three hits and only one out. A flyout brought one more out and a great throw by Wells to prevent any tagged runs. With bases loaded,
Dawson Lane struck out the last batter to leave all three Spartans on base. After the tough first inning of two runs scored, Lane found his groove to strike five out and force eight flyouts and seven ground outs to keep the two runs the only scores for Tampa.
Florida Southern, eager to retake the lead, fed off a double by Wells, who eventually made it home off a throwing error and 2-2 game in the top of the third. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Mocs scored three to retake the lead after the bases were loaded and a free RBI walk by Berry.
Jared DeSantolo smashed a two-RBI single as the Mocs extended their lead to a 5-2 score in the top of the fifth.
The Mocs didn't stop there as they tacked on another run in the sixth after an RBI double by Hunter and a five-run advantage with DeSantolo scoring on a passed ball in the seventh. Lane did his job to keep the Mocs ahead with a 7-2 score in his seven innings of work before
Ryan Langford could come in to relieve. Langford, who appeared in last night's 5-0 win to keep the Spartans scoreless, did the same thing in two innings of work to strike out four and give the Mocs a 7-2 victory and series win.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will stay on their conference road schedule as they travel to Daytona Beach to face Embry-Riddle in a three-game series beginning next Friday at 6 p.m.
