BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team (22-10, 8-5 SSC) dropped game one of a three-day series to Lynn University (14-17, 5-11 SSC) 5-1 Thursday afternoon at the Lynn Baseball and Softball Complex.
The Mocs' only run of the afternoon came with a home run by catcher
Drew Cavanaugh.
Bryce Safferwich had the second, and last hit of the game for the Mocs, with a single in the second inning. Despite the tough loss, the homer by Cavanaugh extended FSC's streak to 23 games with at least one home run. Mocs are registering votes in the latest NCBWA Division II poll.
The contest began in a pitching duel, with
Nathan Madej starting for the Mocs. In the second, Florida Southern had two on base after Safferwich singled to right field and
Connor Berry gained a base on balls, but they were both left on base at the end of the second. Both teams failed to score until the third when Lynn scored the first run of the game on an error in right field. The Mocs answered in the top of the fourth, with a solo home run by Cavanaugh putting Florida Southern on the scoreboard.
In the top of the sixth, with the score tied up at 1-1, the Mocs found themselves with two batters on base once again after
Jeff Liquori was hit by a pitch and Cavanaugh walked. However, the Mocs once again failed to score as Safferwich grounded out into a double play that saw Cavanaugh be caught out.
The bottom of the seventh inning began with a Lynn home run. After a Lynn batter doubled and another reached first on an error,
Justin Wit relieved Madej. Despite striking out one batter, Wit and the Mocs defense could not prevent the batters already on base from scoring. By the end of the seventh, the Mocs deficit had increased to four, where the score would stand for the rest of the game.
Leading the Mocs in hits were Safferwich and Cavanaugh, who's single and home run, respectively, accounted for both of the Mocs' hits during the contest. Madej was credited with the loss, his first of the season.
Florida Southern will take on Lynn for game two of the series tomorrow, April 7, at 1 p.m. The series is scheduled to wrap up on Saturday, April 8 in another matchup set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Lynn Baseball and Softball Complex.
