Late Runs Lift Mocs Over Panthers Monday Night

LAKELAND, Fla. – Late runs lifted the Florida Southern College baseball team to a 4-1 victory against Kentucky Wesleyan College on Monday afternoon at Henley Field.
 
The Mocs (7-8, 2-2 SSC) were scoreless in the first five innings but had back-to-back two-run innings starting in the sixth. The Panthers (1-11, 0-0 GMAC) had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the ninth but were held to only one run as the Mocs won the first game 4-1.
 
Despite a hitless first inning, FSC got two on base from walks, but back-to-back strikeouts left the Mocs stranded and scoreless in the first. The first hit of the game would come in the next home half of the inning as Josh Hines singled to shortstop but he too was left on. Both teams then traded hits but no runs in a pitching duel. Lake Fisher got the start for the Moccasins and had five productive innings, allowing only one hit, and striking out five. Scoreless through five innings, FSC sent Tanner Rollyson to relieve in the top of the sixth, continuing the success on the mound.
 
In the home half of the sixth inning, the Mocs had two runs off two hits in a strong inning. Rohsean Riley was walked to open the inning and later made his way to second from a stolen base. The move proved worthy as a single by Jaiden Warde was deep enough for R. Riley to score. A walk by Nick Collins and a single by Hines loaded the bases with El'Rico Riley at bat. E. Riley drew a walk and a free score to end the inning with a 2-0 lead.
 
Rollyson continued to keep the Panthers scoreless in his second inning of work and FSC responded with another two runs in the seventh. Bryce Safferwich walked and stole second to start the seventh, and Warde smashed a two-run homer with two outs to extend FSC's lead to four.
 
A switch at the mound for the Moccasins sent Evan Mobley to pitch in the top of the eighth, striking out two in his first inning to keep Florida Southern up 4-0. In the bottom of the eighth, Relaford had a two-out hit but was later left on still up 4-0. Mobley had some trouble in the top of the ninth, with three back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs but allowed only one run. A tag up on a deep foul out allowed one to score but the final two were stranded as the Mocs held on to win 4-1.
 
Rollyson was credited with the win, the first of his collegiate career, with the loss handed to KWC's starter Evan Oakley. Warde led the Mocs with two hits and three RBI, with two hits by Hines a close second. Both teams were even at seven in hits, and nearly even in runners left on at 10-to-9 to FSC. Warde's homer was his second of the season and ninth of the team. Neither Fisher nor Rollyson allowed a run and only three hits were given up between the two of them.
 
The Mocs will conclude their series against the Panthers tomorrow, March 5, for a 6 p.m. start at Henley Field.
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