General Mar 30, 2023

Mocs Minutes: Baseball and Women's Lacrosse Host While Others Hit the Road

Live Coverage |

Opponents: Saint Leo, Palm Beach Atlantic, Erskine and Tampa
Dates | Times: March 31, 2023 | 8:00 AM & 2:00 PM / April 1, 2023 | 12:00 PM & 4:00 PM
Location: Tampa, Fla. | UT Beach Volleyball Complex
Records: Florida Southern 6-13 | Saint Leo 13-6 | Palm Beach Atlantic 11-11 | Erskine 2-16 | Tampa 8-11
Florida Southern closes out the regular-season away portion of the 2023 schedule with a weekend long of games. The Moccasins start off Friday morning bright and early with another rematch against Saint Leo before its fourth rematch against Palm Beach Atlantic. FSC will return to action against Erskine and Tampa on Saturday afternoon.
FSC fell in the last meeting against PBA 5-0 but took one win against Eckerd in the No. 3 pairings of Ashli Mckenny and Sarah Crocker 21-15 and 21-11.
Saint Leo is currently on a three game losing streak and has only but is 12-5 on the season defeating the Mocs in all its meetings thus far. The Lions are led by Arlaina Stephenson and Nina Vattovaz in the No. 1 pairing and are 5-2 overall. In the No. 2 pairing is Sydney Omtvedt and Arlaina Stephenson also 5-2. Leeann Portter and Lina Russo are the No.3 flight and are also 5-2 on the season.
Palm Beach Atlantic is 500 on the year currently on a two game win streak including the most recent win against the Mocs on Saturday. The Sailfish are led by Karla Cantero and Abigail Mason we are both 8-6 on the season as a pair being 3-0 in the #4 pairing and 5-6 in the five flight.
Erskine is currently on a 14 game losing streak with the last 11 made in 5-0 decisions. Erskine captured a win in the first game of the season defeating Spartanburg Methodist College 5-0. The only other win for Erskine came on senior day as the Fleet won against Catawba.
Tampa is currently on a one game winning streak defeating Houston Christian 4-1 after falling to #11 Georgia State 5-0. Overall, the No.5 pairing of Kalli Gors and Alivia Horn are leading the Spartans 10-3.
HISTORY: The Mocs have faced every opponent at least once this season minus Erskine who FSC defeated last season 3-2.

Opponent: #26 Augusta & #45 Georgia College
Dates | Times: March 31, 2023 | 12:00 PM / April 2, 2023 | 12:00 PM
Location: Augusta, Ga. | Newman Tennis Center
Records: #24 Florida Southern 13-6, 2-4 SSC | #26 Augusta 13-4, 1-1 SSC | #45 Georgia College 6-6, 0-2 SSC
No. 24 Florida Southern will travel to Augusta, Ga. for a weekend trip to take on two teams. The Mocs remained at No. 24 in the ITA Division II Poll announced on Wednesday, as the doubles pairing of Chris Fok Kow and Matteo Feggi moved up to No. 9 in the national rankings. They proved their ranking in their last match with a 6-4 win over No. 43 Saint Leo pairing but it was No. 1 Saint Leo that won the team match with a 5-2 score. Mario Garoz was the only singles win against the Lions on Wednesday as the Mocs faced four nationally ranked singles players in the match.
No. 26 Augusta have competed very well this season and will take on the University of North Georgia and Columbus State before the match against the Mocs on Friday. Last time out, the Jags beat Benedict College 6-1, having won the last two matches of the season.
No. 45 Georgia College and State University has lost the last three matches in a row, each against top 30 teams in the nation. Last time out, GCSU lost 5-2 against No. 15 Flagler last week. They will take on No. 11 Lander on Saturday before their matchup with the Mocs. The Bobcats have one singles player in the top 75 as Gabriel Cizek is ranked 65th among Division II players.
HISTORY: The Mocs have faced Augusta two times in their history, both Moccasin wins. The last matchup was April 11, 1998, when the Mocs won 7-2 in Lakeland. FSC won 4-3 in 1996 in Augusta as their first match against each other. Similarly, Florida Southern has faced Georgia College and State University two times with a 5-4 FSC win in 2006 and a 1998 5-2 win.

Meet: ERAU Spikes Classic
Dates: March 31 - April 1, 2023
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Embry-Riddle Track & Field Complex
The Florida Southern men's and women's track teams head to a familiar event as the Moccasins take part in the Spikes Classic hosted by Embry-Riddle. The Mocs have made several trips to Daytona Beach over the years and have posted several top performances at those meets as well.
The Florida Southern women only see action on Friday as the team will compete in a total of three events. The Mocs will send entrants into the 1500m, 3000m steeplechase as well as the 5000m. Sophomore Emma Mussante and junior Ellie Fluman will try to post strong times in the 1500m as FSC sends six total runners into the event. A total of 10 Mocs will enter the 5000m with three including Mussante and Fluman serving as pace-runners for some of the other FSc competitors. The lone FSC entrant in the steeplechase will be junior Carolina Titus who will look to lower her season-opening time.
The Florida Southern men will compete on both Friday and Saturday with three events Friday and one event Saturday. The men will run in the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m on Friday before tackling the 800m on Saturday. A total of 12 Moccasins will enter the 1500m, led by senior Alex Guy and freshman Anthony Matthew. The Mocs will send seven runners into the 5000m including four freshmen. Five runners will attack the 10000m including seniors Billy Adams and David Pautienus, junior Bryson Yamnitz and freshmen Chris Colavita and Karl van Gelder. Five Mocs will return to Daytona Beach Saturday to compete in the 800m including Adams, Guy, Matthew, sophomore Seth Augustynowski and sophomore Jaylen Caneus.

Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Dates | Times: March 31, 2023 | 6:00 PM / April 1, 2023 | 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla. | Simpson Field
Records: Florida Southern 16-17, 5-10 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 11-16, 4-11 SSC
Florida Southern is on it's longest break thus far this season with a whole week off from action as they are coming off a tough weekend against #18 Saint Leo. The Moccasins are currently on a three-game losing streak after falling to the ranked Lions in the Sunshine State Conference series at home. Despite the loss, FSC opened up the doubleheader taking Saint Leo to extra innings to fall in the 8th 1-0. The Mocs are looking to bounce back this weekend traveling to West Palm Beach, Fla. to face the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic in the SSC series on Friday and Saturday.
In the SSC, Florida Southern dropped in the conference standings now just ahead of PBA by one win in the conference.
Junior Taylor Thomas continues to lead the way supporting a .392 batting average overall. Skyler Ralstin is batting just behind Thomas with a .391 average after, while junior Kiki Morris with a .315 to finish the Mocs 300 batting averages. Thomas has 38 hits on the season with 10 doubles, one homer, and 23 RBIs. Ralstin is 34-for-87 from the plate with 16 runs, five doubles and 15 runners batted in. Morris has five doubles on the season with 10 RBIS in 23 hits, while Kelsey Peck is leading the Mocs in homers with six. In the circle for the Mocs, Mel Rogers is leading the way with a 3.55 ERA followed by Ashley Blessin with a 3.87 ERA starting in 14 games with 10 complete games striking out 43 batters. Rogers is 6-3 on the season with 15 appearances, six complete games and 35 batters sent back to the dugout with strikeouts.
Palm Beach Atlantic is struggling this season being the last team in the conference, despite being on a three-game winning streak after defeating Lynn University over the past weekend. The Sailfish beat the Fighting Knights in the first two games in run-rule, shutout fashion with a 8-0 and 9-0 win before closing the series with a 5-3 win.
Dallas Watterson is leading PBA with a .364 batting average going 20-for-55 from the plate with four doubles, one homer, and eight runners batted in. With a .337 average is Evoni Rodriguez who is leading the Sailfish with 29 hits, two doubles, one triple, and 13 RBIs. Finally in the 300s is Briana Rodriguez batting a .318 with 27 hits, one double, and three runners batted in. In the circle, is Karen Vasquez with a 1.54 ERA owning a 3-4 record pitching three complete games allowing 51 hits and striking out 14 batters. Right behind Vasquez is Cambria Arturo owning a 1.74 ERA with 24 strikeouts pitching four complete games and is 2-5 on the season.
HISTORY: This will be the 51st meeting between the Mocs and Sailfish as FSC is short in the away record 8-13 the teams are tied 14-14 on Chris Bellotto Field. FSC won the series last year winning the first two games in 4-2 decision before falling in game two of the doubleheader 7-5.

Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Dates | Times: March 31, 2023 | 6:00 PM / April 1, 2023 | 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM
Location: Lakeland, Fla. | Henley Field
Records: Florida Southern 19-9, 5-4 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 14-14, 3-9 SSC
Florida Southern returns to Lakeland after a 9-5 victory over No. 21 Rollins Tuesday night in a non-conference road game. Mocs finished with 18 hits in the game, the sixth straight game the FSC has reached double digits in hits. Ryan Magdic hit another leadoff home run to start the game and he tied Jeff Liquori and Bryce Safferwich with three hits in the game. Kerry Wright got the win and Mocs had great relieving innings by Justin Wit, Nathan Madej, and Collin Camarigg.
Mocs are batting .321 as a team and league-high 53 home runs (11 more than the next team), led by Drew Cavanaugh with nine. FSC is averaging 1.89 homers a game, fifth-best in NCAA Division II, and is sixth in total home runs. Florida Southern also leads the conference in total hits (339) for a top-10 ranking in NCAA. Liquori is 16th in program history for total career home runs with 22 in his career, just three behind a top-15 placement. Safferwich leads the team with a .400 batting average, with a .434 average and 20 RBI in his last 17 games.
On the mound, the Mocs continue to improve and rely on an SSC-best 282 strikeouts, with 60 from Madej, good for 13th in NCAA. As a team, Mocs are 16th among Division II programs with 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Among starters, Madej is joined by Aric McAtee with a 3.86 ERA and Jordan Fox with a 6.16 ERA. Wit leads relievers with a 1.65 ERA and Andrew Williamson leads the team with 14 total appearances. Camarigg has four saves on the season.
Palm Beach Atlantic had a winning series against Lynn last time out having won 9-6 in game one and 8-1 in game two. The only loss in the series was a 12-0 shutout in which the Sailfish gave up three home runs. PBA had a successful game one at the plate with 17 hits, including a perfect five-for-five for Pedro Figueroa. The wins tallied the first SSC series win for PBA this season.
As a team, the Sailfish average .276 at the plate and are led by Figueroa with a .368 average. Mikey Casaleggio has a team-high 20 RBI on the season with two right behind him with 19 RBI. PBA has hit 10 homers this season while giving up 16. In total, the Sailfish has a 6.37 ERA, the worst in the SSC. Starting on the mound, Dan Beebe leads with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts.
HISTORY: Dating back to 1987, Mocs hold a 33-9 series advantage over the Sailfish, having won the last six matchups. Last season, Mocs swept PBA with a 10-2, 10-2, and 1-0 series. Jared DeSantolo hit a solo homer in the series opener that would be the game winner in a 1-0 score. The doubleheader on Saturday combined for a 20-4 score in favor of the Mocs, including another four home runs.

Opponent: #11 Lynn
Date | Time: April 1, 2023 | 1:00 PM
Location: Lakeland, Fla. | Berend Field
Records: #5 Florida Southern 9-1, 0-0 SSC | #11 Lynn 9-2, 0-0 SSC
No. 5 Florida Southern looks to open its Sunshine State Conference slate against No. 11 Lynn after defeating No. 24 Colorado Mesa 24-12 on March 25. The Mocs used eight first quarter goals to take a quick lead before adding five in the second, seven in the third and four in the fourth. Jackie Stoller paced the team with eight points on four goals and four assists while Giana Murphy had four goals as well.
Stoller is tied for the team lead in total goals with Hailey Daleo at 27 through 10 games. Stoller is the team leader in points with 48, adding 21 assists on the season. Murphy is tied with Lizzy Lynch for second most points with 33. Murphy has 23 goals this season while Lynch stands at 19 and has 14 assists.
As a team, the Mocs average 17.5 goals a game while holding opponents to 11.8. In goal, Rylie Rittberg has played a team-leading 417:17 minutes with 78 goals against (11.22 Goals Against Average) with 43 saves (.355 save percentage) while holding a 7-1 record between the pipes.
No. 11 Lynn is looking to rebounding after falling in overtime with No. 15 Flagler, 12-11, on March 29. The Fighting Knights opened with a six goal first quarter before getting shutout in the second. Lynn added two goals in the third and three in the fourth to end the game tied at 11, before allowing one goal in the overtime period. Mallory Jarka paced the team with a hattrick in the loss.
Kristyn Johnson leads the team with 29 goals and in points with 37. Mallory Jarka and Elizabeth Clagett are tied for second with 29 points. Jarka is the second leading scorer with 25 goals.
The Fighting Knights average 14.82 goals a game and hold opponents to 8.91 in 11 games. Two keepers have split time in goal with Ciara Moorman playing 304 minutes in seven games at 4-1 while Callista Elica has played in 360 minutes with a 5-1 record. Moorman averages 8.29 GAA with 39 saves, .481 save percentage, while Elica averages 9.33 GAA with 36 saves, .391 save percentage.
History Florida Southern is 3-0 against Lynn all-time, including a 1-0 mark in Lakeland. In the last meeting, the then-no. 11 Mocs defeated the then-no. 25 Fighting Knights 21-12 on its second trip to Boca Raton in 2022. Abby McFerren led a trio of goal-scorers with five goals where she finished with a team best seven points. Madison Tare and Hailey Daleo both finished with five goals. Kristyn Johnson paced the Fighting Knights with four goals for a team lead four points.

Opponent: Embry-Riddle
Date | Time: April 1, 2023 | 4:00 PM
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Field
Records: #16 Florida Southern 8-2, 1-0 SSC | Embry-Riddle 4-5, 0-2 SSC
No. 16 Florida Southern hits the road for the second time in Sunshine State Conference play this season as the Moccasins travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. to face the Embry-Riddle Eagles. The Mocs are in search of their seventh-straight victory which would tie the program record for longest winning streak which FSC has achieved twice before, in 2012 and 2014.
Senior Sean Nolan continues to get closer to another career record at Florida Southern as he needs just two more goals to tie career leader Dane Sorensen's (2012-15) career mark of 175 goals.
Senior Nick Shannon earned his second SSC Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season as well as his second USILA NCAA Division II Team of the Week nod after outstanding performances versus Lynn and Westminster. The Boynton Beach, Fla. native caused a career-high tying six turnovers versus Westminster while scooping up a career-best seven ground balls.
As a team, the Moccasins rank high in several statistical categories within NCAA Division II. FSC leads the country in caused turnovers per contest (16.10), ground balls per contest (46.30), total points (317), and scoring offense (20.40). The Mocs also rank second in the nation in total assists (113), total ground balls (463), points per game (31.70), and scoring margin (+11.50) while ranking inside the top ten in assists per game (4th, 11.30), opponent clear percentage (5th, 0.731), man-up offense (6th, 0.535), shot percentage (9th, 0.351), and clearing percentage (10th, 0.901). Senior Nick Shannon leads both the NCAA and SSC in caused turnovers per contest (3.30) while freshman Jacob Czyz ranks 10th in the country in ground balls per game (7.50).
Nolan leads the offensive attack for the Mocs as he leads the Sunshine State Conference in points per game (5.20) while ranking second in both goals per contest (3.30) and assists per contest (1.90). Sophomore Matt Flammenspeck is second on the team in scoring with 30 goals so far in 2023 while ranking fourth in the SSC in goals per game (3.00). Five others have produced double-digit tallies this season including freshman Nolan Tighe (25), graduate student Jay Minor (16), junior Brendan Glasser (16), graduate student Andrew Medeiros (13) and sophomore Brydon Robichaud (10). Nolan leads the team with 19 assists while Medeiros sits in second with 17 assists this season followed closely by Minor with 14. At the face off, it has been Czyz handling most of duties as he has gone 132-of-245 (.539) while fellow freshman Luke Henricksen has won 35-of-65 this season (.538). Czyz also leads the team in ground balls this season with 75 (7.5 per contest).
Defensively, Shannon has caused a team, conference and NCAA-best 33 turnovers this season while scooping up 40 ground balls to rank second on the squad. Senior Zac Fitzgerald ranks second on the team with 16 caused turnovers while graduate student Craig Connor ranks third with 15. Five goalkeepers have seen action for the Mocs this season with junior Michael Simone seeing the majority of the action. Simone has started the last six contests and has a perfect 6-0 record with a 7.02 goals against average in 307-plus minutes of action. He has 50 saves and has seen action in nine of the 10 contests this season.
Embry-Riddle has lost three-straight heading into Saturday's contest. The Eagles fell at home to nationally-ranked Rollins this past Saturday 15-5 which followed road losses at Belmont Abbey (14-10) and at nationally-ranked Tampa (20-3). The Eagles last victory came on Friday, March 3 versus Lander, a 16-14 victory in Savannah, Ga.
Junior Isaiah Hines leads the offensive attack for Embry-Riddle with 31 goals through nine games this season. He is followed by junior Coleman Jacobs who has 24 tallies while sophomore Pete Abbes rounds out their double-digit scorers with 15 goals. Sophomore Christian Hofer has led the team in assists with seven but seven Eagles have between three and seven assists on the team for a well-balanced attack. Sophomore Andrew Ewalt has been handling the face offs this season and is 99-of-233 (.425) in 2023 while three others have limited numbers. Ewalt also leads the team with 54 ground balls.
Senior Ryan Manning leads the defense with 10 caused turnovers this season followed by freshman Hudson Kirk who has nine. The Eagles have used four different goalkeepers in 2023 led by freshman Carter Groezinger who has seen 359-plus minutes of action and has a 0-4 record with a 14.85 goals against average and 86 saves.
HISTORY: Saturday's contest will mark the fourth meeting between the Eagles and Moccasins on the lacrosse field with FSC holding a perfect 3-0 lead in the series. The Mocs won the inaugural meeting between the two programs in 2018, 15-3, in Daytona Beach. FSC then defeated the Eagles 25-16 in 2019 in Lakeland before winning the most recent meeting last season, 18-6, in Lakeland. Last season, then-senior Kevin Horwitz broke the career face offs won record versus ERAU and this season current senior Sean Nolan has the chance to break the career goals scored record against the Eagles.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#31 Jared DeSantolo: 3B; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; L/R

#55 Kevin Horwitz: F/O; 5' 11"; Senior

Matteo Feggi: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Chris Fok Kow: 6' 1"; Junior

Mario Garoz: 6' 3"; Freshman

#7 Kiki Morris: OF/P; 5' 4"; Junior

#4 Kelsey Peck: SS; 5' 9"; Senior

#1 Skyler Ralstin: OF; 5' 8"; Junior

#18 Mel Rogers: P; 5' 6"; Senior

#18 Sarah Crocker: 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#31 Jared DeSantolo
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; L/R
: 3B

#55 Kevin Horwitz
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F/O

Matteo Feggi
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Chris Fok Kow
: 6' 1"; Junior

Mario Garoz
: 6' 3"; Freshman

#7 Kiki Morris
: 5' 4"; Junior
: OF/P

#4 Kelsey Peck
: 5' 9"; Senior
: SS

#1 Skyler Ralstin
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OF

#18 Mel Rogers
: 5' 6"; Senior
: P

#18 Sarah Crocker
: 5' 10"; Junior

Florida Southern College

Scoreboard

Mocs Minutes: Baseball and Women's Lacrosse Host While Others Hit the Road

Players Mentioned

#31 Jared DeSantolo

#55 Kevin Horwitz

Matteo Feggi

Chris Fok Kow

Mario Garoz

#7 Kiki Morris

#4 Kelsey Peck

#1 Skyler Ralstin

#18 Mel Rogers

#18 Sarah Crocker

Players Mentioned

#31 Jared DeSantolo

#55 Kevin Horwitz

Matteo Feggi

Chris Fok Kow

Mario Garoz

#7 Kiki Morris

#4 Kelsey Peck

#1 Skyler Ralstin

#18 Mel Rogers

#18 Sarah Crocker

Bottom Sponsors