ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team lost its midweek game 14-4 against Eckerd College Tuesday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Mocs (3-5, 0-0 SSC) had seven hits in the non-conference matchup but were unable to stop early scoring by the Tritons, who climbed to a 10-0 lead in the first three innings. The Tritons (5-2, 0-0 SSC) capitalized on early hits and trouble at the mound for a large lead too much for the Mocs to recover from in a 14-4 FSC loss.
Florida Southern opened with a hit by
D'Ante Starks in the first inning but was left on base into a difficult bottom half of the first for the defense. Eckerd had five hits and five runs in the first while leaving two on base in a big opening showing. The Mocs gave up two walks, hit by pitch, a wild pitch, and an error that attributed to the Tritons running through the lineup in the first.
More mistakes in the bottom of the second allowed a sixth run for the Tritons with only a solo hit by
Jevin Relaford marking the FSC offense. EC added another four runs in the third off one hit and four walks for a 10-0 deficit through three innings.
The Moccasins rallied for three runs in the fourth which began with opening doubles by
Jack Duffy and
Bryce Safferwich. Rohsean Riley then had a single with advancement off an error to set up runners at first and second.
El'Rico Riley was at the plate when a double steal sent
Tilden Agee and R. Riley running and a miscue by Eckerd's catcher opened space for R. Riley to come around for the third and final score of the inning.
Down 10-3 through four, FSC held EC scoreless in three straight innings but was unable to produce any runs themselves. The Tritons took advantage of the lack of scoring to add another four runs in the bottom of the seventh off three hits and two FSC errors to extend the lead to 11. Unable to score in the eighth, the Mocs scored a solo run off an RBI single by Relaford as the final score read 14-4 in favor of the Tritons.
Another tough night on the mound for the Mocs with four pitchers used in the midweek game, giving up 10 walks, six wild pitches, and three hit-by-pitch.
Jake Curry had the start and was given the loss, with
Zach Smith, Tanner Rollyson, and
Lucas Perez pitching in relief. Rollyson led the Mocs with five strikeouts in his 4.1 innings pitched. Rick Koch was awarded the win for Eckerd. At the plate, Relaford led with two hits and one RBI.
The Mocs will take a 10-day break before their next game, a three-game series against Barry University to begin conference play on Feb. 23 in Miami Shores.
