Late Rally by Griffins Hands Moccasins a 3-1 Loss

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team was unable to stop a ninth-inning rally by Seton Hill University for a 3-1 loss Saturday afternoon at Henley Field.
 
The Mocs (8-9, 3-3 SSC) scored their only run in the first inning and were held to only four hits in the non-conference loss. The Griffins (9-5, 0-0 PSAC) were scoreless until the eighth inning to tie and a two-run ninth won the game for SHU.
 
Florida Southern was first to score in the afternoon matchup. D'Ante Starks had a first-inning single and later advanced to third off a groundout and wild pitch. With two outs, Rohsean Riley reached on an error in the infield as Starks scored for the 1-0 lead early.
 
Starting on the mound for FSC was Logan Adams who had a solid first inning and after giving up a single in the second inning, a great throw by catcher Josh Hines to Jevin Relaford caught the Griffs runner stealing to remain with a 1-0 lead. FSC maintained the one-score lead through the fourth as SHU's starter Aidan Layton had seven strikeouts in the first four innings.
 
A hitless top of the fifth went to the bottom half with some life for the Moccasins. Relaford had a single up the middle and advanced to third off wild pitches, however, he was left on base on a two-out popup to keep a 1-0 FSC lead through five. The sixth inning also went scoreless for both sides as defense dominated the storyline with great pitching and great defensive plays, including strong snags by Relaford and R. Riley in the infield.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, FSC had two runners on with two outs after Nick Collins reached on an error and a walk for Relaford. SHU had a pitching change to bring in Evan Rossi, who walked Starks to load the bases but escaped on a flyout to continue the 1-0 score into the final innings. As Adams continued his work on the mound in the eighth, a SHU pinch hitter entered to homer and tie the game at one.
 
In the top of the ninth, Seton Hill had two singles and runners at the corners as Owen Sabol hit an RBI to right field to take the lead 2-1. With two outs, FSC had a pitching change to bring in Evan Mobley, who gave up a run to end the half-inning with a 3-1 SHU advantage.
 
Down by two runs, FSC had an opening walk for Collins, but three consecutive outs ended the game for a 3-1 SHU win. The late rally propelled SHU to a six-to-four advantage in hits despite two errors. Though he went nearly the full nine innings, Adams had the loss, Rossi the win for SHU, and Zilli the save. The first four in the Moccasin lineup (Relaford, Starks, Bryce Safferwich, and R. Riley) each had one hit on the day.
 
The Mocs remain at home to host No. 9 Wayne State University on Wednesday, March 13, set for a 6 p.m. start at Henley Field.
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