LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team dropped a tough one on Senior Day to Nova Southeastern, 9-8, Sunday afternoon at Henley Field.
The Mocs (28-20, 19-9 SSC) took the lead with a big third inning where they scored six runs. The Sharks (33-14, 16-12 SSC) had a big inning of their own with a seven-run eighth inning to take and hang on for the 9-8 win.
Florida Southern found themselves down early as the Sharks took a 1-0 lead with an RBI single by Frank with two outs. The Mocs were unable to respond right away but stayed in it with pitching by
Nathan Madej. With two outs for FSC in the bottom of the third,
Jared DeSantolo singled through the middle for an RBI as
Duncan Hunter scored.
Seth Cannady followed with an RBI double to send
Jeff Liquori home to take a 2-1 lead. A pivotal point in the third as
Grady Maguire reached on an error by the Sharks with two more runs scored by the Mocs.
Joe Raffaele hit an RBI single and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a six-run inning, FSC 6-1.
A solo homer by Frank brought Nova Southeastern to a 6-2 deficit, but the Mocs were quick to respond with a big two-run homer by DeSantolo to bring
Connor Berry home which gave the Moccasins an 8-2 lead through four innings. A pitching duel for both teams as Madej continued to do great, where he would strike out five in his seven innings of work. Rivero came in to relieve Cook for the Sharks and his part for three scoreless innings.
A devastating eighth inning for the Mocs as they gave up seven runs and the lead as the Sharks tallied six hits and their runs off bases loaded situations that hurt Florida Southern. They kept the Mocs scoreless in the bottom of the eighth in a 9-8 Nova Southeastern lead into a big ninth inning. Cannady was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maguire. Eventually, at third with two outs, Cannady was left on as the Sharks won 9-8.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will continue their series against the Sharks with a doubleheader beginning tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Henley Field.
