Mocs Baseball Split Conference Doubleheader to Avoid Sweep

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – A split doubleheader saved the Florida Southern College baseball team from a series sweep against Barry University on Saturday afternoon at Feinbloom Field.
 
The Mocs (4-7, 1-2 SSC) lost their first game of the day on a walk-off run but rallied in the series finale to a big 10-4 win to avoid the sweep. The Buccaneers (8-6, 2-1 SSC) capitalized on an error in the bottom of the ninth to walk off a 6-5 win over the Mocs before a game three loss to still win the series 2-1.
 
BARRY 6, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 5
The Mocs had an early 3-0 deficit but consistent runs halfway through the game allowed a tie game into the bottom of the ninth. A double play attempt by the Mocs to send into extras went high over first base to allow the Bucs to walk off in a 6-5 win.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Barry had three runs in the second off four hits. Shelly opened the scoring for BU with an RBI single and Rodriguez had a two-run double shortly after before leaving two stranded. Down by three, Chris McKenna started the third inning with a big triple to center field to allow Jevin Relaford to make a sacrifice fly and bring him home. The Mocs repeated a solo run from a Jack Duffy homer in the fourth to bring the game within a single score.
 
Noriega and the Buccaneers brought in a run with a single in the B5, but FSC answered with two runs in the sixth to tie the game. Bryce Safferwich had a leadoff double, followed by Rohsean Riley with a single to center. After baserunners advanced from a groundout, El'Rico Riley had a two-run single for the tie.
 
Florida Southern took the lead in the seventh after Relaford tripled and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 5-4 lead. The lead was short-lived after Menendez had an RBI single to tie FSC in the eighth. Despite a one-out triple by Relaford, he was left stranded in the top of the ninth to allow Barry a chance to win. An early single and walk had two runners on for Barry as an infield hit opened a double-play opportunity to send into extras. The throw to first went high as the Buccaneers walked in the game-winning run 6-5.
 
Barry outhit the Mocs 12-to-9 and left 10 on to FSC's seven in a Moccasin loss. Errors proved costly for the Mocs with both errors contributing to scores. Casey O'Dell was handed the loss with Barry's Federico Zapata the win. Three Moccasins had a multi-hit game as Relaford, Safferwich, and R. Riley had two hits each. Both of Relaford's hits were triples in an impressive use of speed.
 
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 10, BARRY 4
A rebounding series finale for the Mocs with 10 hits and 10 runs for the win. FSC capitalized on three errors by the Bucs to win by six runs, despite leaving 10 runners on base. A three-run homer by Duffy, his second homer of the day, along with six total stolen bases highlighted the FSC win. The 10-4 victory snapped a four-game losing streak in 2024 and a five-game losing streak to the Buccaneers.
 
Florida Southern was first to score with a sacrifice fly by Safferwich to send D'Ante Starks home. Mocs held the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the second when Nitch hit an RBI single to tie the game at one. Off two hits and an error, FSC was quick to respond with three runs in the third with a two-run single by Safferwich and a groundout by Duffy to send Safferwich home for a 4-1 FSC lead.
 
On the mound for the Mocs, Logan Adams kept the Buccaneers at bay for the first five innings and allowed FSC to extend its lead to four after a score on a wild pitch in the fifth. Barry narrowed its deficit in the sixth with a three-run homer by Toms for a 5-4 FSC lead through six. Duffy answered with a three-run homer himself in the next half inning and the Mocs added another run off an RBI double by Nick Collins to send Jaiden Warde home.
 
Evan Mobley relieved Adams on the mound and had a productive three innings which allowed FSC to add a 10^th run in the eighth inning with a free score on a bases-loaded walk. Mobley and Tanner Quick handled the final innings with a 10-4 Moccasin win to avoid the series sweep. Adams was credited with the win and Angel Cespedes the loss. FSC's six stolen bases was a new season-high and Starks' three stolen bases in a single game matched his three set in last season as recent top base runners.
 
The Mocs will return to Lakeland for its home conference opener hosting Eckerd College March 1-2, beginning with a Friday night game at Henley set for a 6 p.m. start.
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