LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team has won the last 13 games in a row after a 4-3 win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania Monday night at Henley Field.
The Mocs (15-4, 3-0 SSC) had a new season-high four home runs on the day, each of them solo shots. The Crimson Hawks (3-10, 0-0 PSAC) tied the game in the sixth but were unable to tally a run in the final three innings as the Mocs held on for the 4-3 win.
Florida Southern opened the game with a run as
Drew Cavanaugh smashed a solo homer and a 1-0 score for the Mocs.
Lake Fisher got the start for the Mocs and kept IUP scoreless in the first two innings in his three innings of work for the Mocs to continue to add to their lead. FSC scored its second run as a solo shot by
Rohsean Riley to make it 2-0 through two innings.
IUP responded to the 2-0 FSC lead with a sacrifice fly by Pontoli to bring the score within one in the third inning, but the Mocs were quick to respond with another home run, this time by
Bryce Safferwich for a 3-1 score. The home run by Safferwich marked the second consecutive game with at least three home runs by the Mocs after three beyond the fence against Seton Hill on Friday.
With
Justin Wit on the mound to relieve Fisher, IUP scored with an RBI single by Pontoli for a 3-2 Moccasin lead through five innings. Keeping Florida Southern scoreless in two innings, IUP evened the score with an RBI double by Patterson for the 3-3 score.
Connor Berry took his turn toward the fence with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth, and for the first time this season, Florida Southern hit four home runs in a single game. With a 4-3 lead, Mocs found themselves in a bind with bases loaded from walks by
Kerry Wright before bringing in
Andrew Williamson to relieve. The righty came in and struck out his first batter with three straight strikes and the second batter reached on a fielder's choice after
Jeff Liquori had an incredible snag to throw home and record out number two. Williamson struck out his third batter to leave three IUP runners on and FSC remained with a 4-3 advantage. After another three strikeouts by Williamson in the eighth,
Collin Camarigg entered in the bottom of the ninth to retire the batters as FSC held on for the win 4-3.
The Mocs will be back tomorrow for game two with the Crimson Hawks, set for a 6 p.m. start at Henley Field.
