MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Southern College baseball head coach
Lance Niekro '10 won his 300
th career win as the Mocs (32-15, 17-10 SSC) complete the series sweep of the Florida Institute of Technology (22-24, 11-16 SSC) with a 10-3 victory Monday afternoon at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
After sweeping a doubleheader against the Florida Tech Panthers yesterday, the Mocs finished the series off strong, defeating Florida Tech by a margin of seven runs in game three. Leading FSC in hits were
D'Ante Starks, Connor Berry, and
Bryce Safferwich, each with three hits, with
Ryan Magdic and
Rohsean Riley leading the team in runs, each tallying two.
The contest began with two scoreless innings, but the Mocs took the lead in the third thanks to a left-side single by R. Riley, followed by a homer from Starks.
A base hit by Safferwich started the fourth inning action for the Mocs, followed by another single from
Mitch Donofrio which advanced Safferwich to third. R. Riley enabled the Mocs to increase their lead with a single up the middle that drove in Safferwich. Later in the top of the fourth,
El'Rico Riley notched a 2-RBI double, bringing the score to 5-0. E. Riley and Starks, who had the final single of the inning, were left on base as the Panthers came up to bat.
First up at bat for the Mocs in the fifth was Magdic, whose solo homer to left center field increased the Panthers deficit to six. Berry singled and Safferwich doubled, putting the two FSC batters in scoring position. With Berry and Safferwich on base, Donofrio gained a base on balls, loading the bases. R. Riley grounded out in a double play that also saw Donofrio be caught out at second, giving Berry the opportunity to score and Safferwich to advance to third.
The top of the sixth saw a pitching change for the Panthers.
Jevin Relaford walked and stole second base. Starks was hit by a pitch.
Drew Cavanaugh had a sacrifice fly to left field; Relaford scored. Despite Magdic walking and Berry singling to center field, the Mocs would not score again in the sixth.
In the top of the eighth, after another Panthers pitching change, Cavanaugh walked and advanced to third after Magdic singled down the right field line. Next up at bat, Berry also singled, driving in Cavanaugh and enabling Magdic to advance to second. Safferwich loaded the bases for the Mocs with a left side single and a sacrifice fly by Donofrio drove in Magdic to give FSC a 10-run lead. Safferwich and Berry advanced on a wild pitch, putting them both in scoring position. R. Riley flew out to center field, and two Mocs were left on base.
Evan Mobley entered the game to pitch for the Mocs in the bottom of the eighth, after
Jordan Fox threw seven complete innings, allowing six hits, no runs, and striking out five Panthers batters. After three singles and one strikeout, Florida Tech finally broke through in the eighth for their first run of the game.
The top of the ninth saw Relaford end up on first after being hit by a pitch and advance to second as Starks walked. The Mocs would not score in the ninth after E. Riley struck out, Cavanaugh flew out and
Tilden Agee, who pinch-hit for Magdic, struck out.
A late surge of energy from the Panthers saw them score two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to redeem game three for Florida Tech. The final score was 10-3.
Fox was credited with the win, his fifth of the season.
The Mocs will conclude their regular season next weekend at Historic Henley Field against Barry University. Game one of the two-game series, in which the seniors will be recognized, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on May 12.
