LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team had its 14-game winning streak snapped with a 13-7 loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wednesday night at Henley Field.
The Mocs (16-5, 3-0 SSC) had an early 4-1 lead but were shut out over five innings as IUP climbed to a large lead. The Crimson Hawks (4-11, 0-0 PSAC) evened the score in the top of the third and continued to rack up the runs to end their losing streak and end FSC's winning run.
Despite an RBI single by the Crimson Hawks in the first to take an early lead, Florida Southern answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
El'Rico Riley got a base on balls, eventually making his way to third before he was able to score on a dropped flyout by IUP. An RBI single by
Rohsean Riley scored
Bryce Safferwich for a 2-1 FSC ballgame.
It was the Mocs again in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer by
Jeff Liquori to bring
Julio Cortez home and a 4-1 Moccasin score through two innings. An RBI single followed by an RBI double for the Crimson Hawks added three runs in the top of the third to even the score at four apiece.
IUP shut out the Mocs over the next five innings as the Crimson Hawks climbed to a 13-4 lead, including six runs in the seventh. Florida Southern scored with an RBI single by
Connor Berry in the bottom of the eighth and another two runs in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly by
Julio Cortez and an RBI single by Liquori. Despite the late runs, Mocs lost 13-7, ending an impressive 14-game win streak heading into today's game. Hit streaks that were extended in tonight's game: Liquori moved to 16 games, R. Riley to 15 games, and Safferwich to 13 games.
The starting pitcher for the Mocs was
Mitchell LeRoy, who was handed the loss after five innings of five earned runs and eight strikeouts. FSC also had pitching appearances by
Justin Wit,
Tommy Turkett,
Christian Suarez, and first-time appearances by
Zach Smith and
Ryan Magdic.
The Mocs will turn their attention to conference play as they host No. 2 University of Tampa for a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at Henley Field. The weekend will also host the Baseball Champions Reunion honoring FSC baseball alumni and the 1978 and 1988 National Championship teams. A pregame ceremony honoring the alumni will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
