Florida Southern Drops Series Opening Doubleheader at West Georgia

CARROLTON, Ga. - The Florida Southern College baseball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader on the road at the University of West Georgia Saturday afternoon. FSC fell 5-4 in the opening game before dropping the nightcap 10-3.
 
After this afternoon's results, FSC moves to 8-12 on the season while West Georgia is now 13-11.
 
WEST GEORGIA 5, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 4
Seniors Jevin Relaford and D'Ante Starks led the way at the plate for the Mocs in the opener as the pair each finished with a team-best two hits. Relaford went 2-5 at the dish with a double, a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base for an all-around effort. Starks was 2-3 with a pair of RBI, a stolen base and a HBP. Senior Grady Maguire provided the only other extra base hit as he collected a double in a pinch hit appearance.
 
The Mocs were the first to crack the scoreboard Saturday as Relaford laced a two-out double to right center in the top of the third. Starks then stepped to the plate but Relaford was not done as he stole third. Starks replicated Relaford's AB as he sent a ball to right center which scored his teammate and gave the Mocs a 1-0 lead.
 
FSC held the Wolves off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third but the home team was able to even up the game in the fourth as a one-out solo home run tied the game up midway through the contest. The Mocs retook the lead in the top of the fifth as freshman Josh Hines started the action with a leadoff single. He was able to advance to third on a pair of wild pitches and then senior El'Rico Riley reached on an error by the UWG third baseman. Riley then stole second to setup an excellent scoring opportunity. Following a flyout, Starks reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, which resulted in Hines scoring and Riley being tagged out at third. A single by junior Bryce Safferwich kept the run going which advanced Starks to second but a failed double steal ended the inning with the Mocs leading 2-1.
 
The Wolves broke the game open in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings with two in the sixth, one in the seventh and one in the eighth to take a 5-2 lead into the final inning. FSC made a rally in the ninth as senior Nick Collins led off the inning with a single. Maguire then followed with a pinch hit double to right center which moved Collins to third. After a strikeout, Relaford sent a one-out RBI single through the left side which made it first and third for the Mocs. A wild pitch allowed Maguire to score as Relaford advanced to second as the Mocs trailed 5-4 with one out in the ninth. Following a pitching change, Starks drew a hit by pitch which loaded the bases. The Wolves were able to induce a pair of flyouts to end the game, 5-4.
 
Senior Mitchell LeRoy took the start for the Mocs and went 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts, no walks and a pair of hit by pitches. He scattered seven hits and saw four runs cross the plate while suffering his second loss of the season to move to 2-2 on the year. Sophomore Casey O'Dell pitched the final 1.2 innings with four strikeouts, a walk and just one run allowed. The Gainesville, Fla. native allowed just four base runners after three hits and his one walk.
 
Wets Georgia was led by a trio of student-athletes with two hits while five different players drove in runs. Brendan Parks picked up the win in relief while Ryan Whitener earned the save.
 
WEST GEORGIA 10, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3 (7 INNINGS)
Game two saw Maguire take the start and pick up a team-best two hits as he went 2-3 at the plate with a run scored and another double. Three others had hits including Relaford, senior Rohsean Riley, and senior Tilden Agee. R. Riley accounted for the only other extra base hit as he had a double while Relaford, Starks and E. Riley all earned an RBI.
 
The Wolves came out firing in the opening inning. Following a scoreless half inning for the Mocs, UWG exploded for six runs off of six hits while leaving the bases loaded. The Mocs responded in the second with their only three runs of the contest as Maguire began the rally with a one-out single through the right side. Following a junior Chris McKenna walk, Agee singled to left field which loaded the bases for the Mocs with just one out on the scoreboard. E. Riley drew a HBP to pick up his RBI and cit the defecit to 6-1. Relaford then walked to score FSC's second run of the game and the final tally came on a Starks sacrifice fly which scored Agee. A flyout ended the inning and FSC's scoring for the night.
 
The Wolves tagged on two more runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth for the final score of 10-3.
 
FSC sent five pitchers to the mound as junior Logan Adams suffered the loss to move to 2-3 on the year. He pitched 1.0 inning with a pair of walks and two hit by pitches. Freshman Tanner Rollyson had the longest outing as he pitched the next 2.2 innings with two walks and just three hits allowed. The final three pitchers for the Mocs did not allow a hit as senior Justin Stewart, freshman Lucas Perez and sophomore Rhett Raymer combined for the final 2.1 innings. Stewart took the first two thirds of an inning as he struck out one and walked another. He also had a pair of HBPs which led to a pair of runs crossing the plate. Perez also went two thirds of an inning two two Ks, a walk and a HBP. He did not allow a hit or a run. Raymer closed out the final inning with a walk and a pair of groundouts including an inning closing double play.
 
Garrett Moody took home the win for the Wolves in relief while Seth Dudley earned the start. Sam Ladner and Jack Witmer led UWG with two hits each while Jared Emory and Witmer each drove in three runs.
 
The Mocs and Wolves will close out the three game series tomorrow, March 17 with a noon first pitch.
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