BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Southern College baseball (24-10, 10-5 SSC) took a late lead to defeat the Lynn University Fighting Knights (14-19-1, 5-13 SSC) 3-2 in game three of the series, also winning the series 2-1.
Despite having a slow start to the contest and facing a tough Lynn offense, the Mocs managed to tally six hits throughout the course of the game, two of which came from
Rohsean Riley. The other three came one each from
Bryce Safferwich, D'Ante Starks, Connor Berry, and
Jeff Liquori, who scored the go-ahead run that gave the Mocs the lead in the ninth.
Kerry Wright was the winning pitcher, bringing his record to 2-0 for the season.
Collin Camarigg, who closed the game, racked up his sixth save of the season.
Starks was the first Mocs batter to end up on base with a single during the first, with two outs left in the inning. He advanced all the way to third but never saw the opportunity to score as two Mocs flew out to the outfield.
Florida Southern's first run of the game came in the second, as Berry doubled and advanced to third on a ground out. He scored on a fly-out to center field. Following this, R. Riley singled but was left on base at the end of the inning.
The Mocs offense got to work again in the fourth, with Liquori taking advantage of an error by the Lynn shortstop to get on base. Liquori stole second but was left on base when the inning came to a close.
There was no more scoring action until the sixth when Lynn scored their first run of the game. They added one more to their total in the seventh, giving the Fighting Knights a one-run lead and prompting a pitching change as Wright relieved
Jordan Fox, who allowed only seven hits and two runs in six innings.
The top of the ninth saw a surge of energy from the Mocs, beginning as Berry gained a base on balls.
Ahmad Fitts entered the game to pinch run for Berry, scoring during the next at-bat in which Liquori tripled. Liquori scored the winning run on a base hit by R. Riley.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Mocs sent Camarigg to pitch. Lynn had one on base by the third out of the inning, but Camarigg struck out the final batter with a curveball to end the game.
Next up, the Mocs will stay on the road, traveling to Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., next weekend. The series will begin with a singular contest set for a 6 p.m. start at the NSU Baseball Complex.
