LAKE WORTH, Fla. – Florida Southern College baseball (26-11, 12-6 SSC) dominated Nova Southeastern University (17-19, 7-11 SSC) by a score of 17-7 on Sunday afternoon in game three to get the series win at Palm Beach State College.
D'Ante Starks led the Mocs in hits, going three-for-three at the plate, scoring two runs, and batting in four runs. Leading the team in runs was
Jevin Relaford, with three.
NSU took an early lead during the second, scoring twice and again once in the third and creating a 3-0 Mocs deficit that would stand until the fifth.
At the end of the fourth, the Mocs changed pitchers, sending in
Lake Fisher for starter
Jordan Fox.
In the top of the fifth,
Mitch Donofrio, first up to bat, gained a base on balls. He advanced to second as
Grady Maguire also walked; they both gained another base on a wild pitch. Maguire and Donofrio both scored as Starks doubled down the left field line.
The Mocs staged a four-run inning in the sixth, which began with another base gained on balls by
Connor Berry. Berry scored on a double hit to right center by
Jeff Liquori. Liquori's double was followed by a homer from Donofrio.
With the bases now cleared,
Rohsean Riley reached first on a wild pitch. R. Riley was tagged out at second on the following play, but Relaford reached first on a fielder's choice. Relaford stole second and advanced to third on the throw as Maguire was tagged out at first. Starks singled to left field, enabling a run for Relaford. At the end of the sixth, the score was tied 6-6.
The seventh proved to be another productive inning for the Mocs, who tallied five runs to gain the lead. The action began as Liquori had a base hit to center field and stole second. Liquori scored as R. Riley singled to right field. R. Riley advanced into scoring position thanks to another single from Relaford.
El'Rico Riley entered to pinch hit and homered to left field, driving in Relaford and Riley as well. Next up at bat was Starks, who added another run to the Mocs' total with a homer down the left field line.
The bottom of the seventh saw another pitching change for the Mocs, in which
Justin Wit threw one inning with no runs and no hits before being relieved by
Andrew Williamson.
Scoring action began for the Mocs once again in the ninth. What would be a six-run inning began with a double from R. Riley. Relaford singled to left field and R. Riley advanced to third. After a line out, Relaford stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch that also allowed R. Riley to score. Next, Starks gained a base on balls and stole second; then,
Drew Cavanaugh walked as well.
Starks and Relaford scored on a single through the left side hit by
Bryce Safferwich. With Safferwich and Cavanaugh on base, Berry hit a home run to left field, increasing the Mocs' lead to 11 runs.
In the bottom of the ninth,
Jake Curry relieved Williamson, after Williamson had thrown one inning with no runs and no hits allowed.
NSU quickly tallied two outs, before one batter gained a base on balls. After a single and a wild pitch, the Sharks had two batters in scoring position. Another base gained on balls and a second wild pitch enabled NSU to score, all with just one out to go in the contest. Curry struck out the final batter to finalize the score of 17-7.
Lake Fisher was credited with the win, allowing two hits and three runs in two innings.
Next up on the Mocs' schedule is a midweek contest at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla., set for a 6 p.m. start on Tuesday, April 18.
