LAKELAND, Fla. — The No. 19 Florida Southern College baseball team fell to No. 2 University of Tampa 5-4 in extra innings Friday night at Henley Field.
The Mocs (16-6, 3-1 SSC) battled the entire game with a one-run lead heading into the ninth but lost their first conference game of the season. The Spartans (18-4, 7-0 SSC) tied the game in the top of the ninth and added what would be the game-winner in the 10th.
Bryce Safferwich led the Mocs in runs, scoring two including one home run.
Drew Cavanaugh and
D'Ante Starks also helped the Mocs' effort with one run each.
A pitching duel started the game, with neither team breaking away for a run until the fourth inning, when Tampa picked up the first run of the game. Nate Madej threw seven innings for the Mocs, averaging just one hit per inning.
The Mocs were quick to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Safferwich homered to left field and drove in Cavanaugh. Florida Southern kept this one-run lead until the bottom of the sixth when an RBI single by
Connor Berry brought home Safferwich and a 3-1 Moccasin lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Spartans scored one run, followed by another run that was walked in after a Tampa batter was hit by a pitch to tie the game at three apiece. After two walks, including an intentional walk for Liquori, Mocs were set up with runners on as Cavanaugh hit an RBI single to score Starks for FSC to reclaim the lead of 4-3.
Andrew Williamson threw nine strikes in one inning pitched after relieving Madej in the eighth. The eighth saw neither team score, with Williamson and the rest of the Mocs' defense leaving Tampa with no hits.
Tampa tied the game in the top of the ninth on a single to center field, leaving it up to the Mocs to score in the bottom of the ninth or force an extra inning. The inning ended with a double play by Liquori, who caught a line drive to first, tallying two outs. In the bottom of the ninth, Liquori belted the ball to right-center field, but it was not quite far enough for a homer as a Tampa outfielder reached the fence and caught the ball. With this play and a strikeout, the Spartans sent the game to the tenth inning.
With three hits in the top of the tenth, Tampa scored one run, giving the Spartans a 5-4 lead. The Mocs couldn't score in the bottom of the tenth after a Tampa pitching change and the score stood 5-4.
Collin Camarigg was credited with the loss, with four hits and two runs in two innings pitched.
Florida Southern and Tampa will face off again in a doubleheader tomorrow, March 18, scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Historic Henley Field.
