Mocs Win Game Three Against North Georgia in Comeback Fashion

DAHLONEGA, Ga. - Saturday afternoon Florida Southern College baseball (3-4, 0-0 SSC) secured the win in their first road series of the 2023 season after defeating the University of North Georgia (4-2, 0-0 PBC) in game three, 7-6.
 
The Mocs went into game three looking for a comeback after splitting a doubleheader with the Nighthawks yesterday. By the bottom of the third inning, the Mocs were six runs back, but the team rallied together for a dominant performance that gave Florida Southern a late lead in the ninth.
 
The game began with a pitcher's duel that lasted until the bottom of the second inning. Jake Curry, while pitching for the Mocs, walked four Nighthawks in a row and a free run for UNG. Curry struck one UNG batter out, but the next at-bat brought two more Nighthawks in. This prompted a pitching change from the Mocs, sending Evan Mobley to the mound. With bases loaded, Mobley walked another Nighthawks batter. A pop-up to right field ended the inning, but not before the Nighthawks were up 5-0. 
 
During the bottom of the third, an attempt to throw a UNG batter out at first failed when the throw was too high for Jeff Liquori to catch, resulting in a 6-0 Moccasin deficit. 
 
In the top of the fifth, the Mocs put their first run on the board with a solo homer from Rohsean Riley. At the next at-bat, D'Ante Starks singled down the first-base line and the momentum began to build for the Mocs. Starks advanced into scoring position on a fly out and scored on a single to second base by Liquori.
 
The Mocs continued their fifth-inning action in the sixth, when Bryce Safferwich hit a double down the third-base line, batting in Drew Cavanaugh. Collin Camarigg, pitching for the Mocs, struck out three batters in a row to bring the Mocs offense back out onto the field.
 
Starks secured a base hit to right field in the top of the seventh but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice when Relaford came up to bat. Relaford stole second base on a wild pitch and stole third when the second baseman failed to catch a pick-off attempt. Relaford scored after El'Rico Riley tripled down the right-field line.
 
During the top of the eighth, with just one out to go, Mitch Donofrio homered over the left field fence, bringing the score to 6-5. The Mocs defense made quick work of the Nighthawks in the bottom of the eighth, not allowing any hits.
 
The tides turned for the Mocs in the top of the ninth, with one out to go. After Liquori singled to right field and E. Riley gained a base on balls, Cavanaugh hit a single to right field and both of the Mocs on-base ran home, giving the Mocs an outright 7-6 lead.
 
North Georgia was unable to answer the Mocs' comeback and Florida Southern took game three 7-6 and the series 2-1. Camarigg was the winning pitcher, giving up only one hit and seven strikeouts in four innings.
 
The Mocs will stay on the road next weekend to face off with Georgia College starting on February 17 at John Kurtz Field in Milledgeville, Ga. Read Full Article