Heartbreaking Loss at Tech for Moccasin Baseball

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team lost a heartbreaking midweek game against Florida Tech by a 6-5 score on Tuesday Night at the Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
 
The Mocs (9-20, 3-9 SSC) struggled to get runs with 15 left on base, including three innings with the bases loaded. The Panthers (15-18, 7-8 SSC) were down by three by the fifth inning before taking the lead in the bottom fifth and fending off a late rally attempt by the Mocs for the 6-5 win.
 
Florida Southern was first to score in the midweek, nonconference bout with two runs in the second inning off three hits. Back-to-back singles by Rohsean Riley and Jack Duffy set up a sac bunt by D'Ante Starks and advanced runners in scoring position. An infield groundout by Nick Collins was enough to score R. Riley, and a succeeding triple by El'Rico Riley sent Duffy home for an early 2-0 lead.
 
Neither team would score in the next two innings, although three walks set the bases loaded in the third for FSC, but all were left on in a disappointing outing. In the top of the fifth, Duffy had an RBI single to score Bryce Safferwich, who had a leadoff double, for a strong 3-0 lead. Wyatt Clark had the start for the Moccasins and held FT scoreless in the first four innings with five strikeouts. However, in the bottom of the fifth, an early single, walk, and bunt advanced two FT runners in scoring position. A wild pitch scored one and later two walks set up a three RBI double by Guzman to take the lead by a 4-3 score.
 
The Moccasins were quick to tie the game back up in the sixth with a bases-loaded walk, but again three Mocs were left on with a swinging third strikeout. In the bottom of the sixth, Tanner Rollyson went to work with two strikeouts after relieving Clark in the fifth. After another left on in the top of the seventh, the Panthers responded with two runs in the home half of two RBI singles and a 6-4 lead.
 
Neither team scored in the eighth and set up a needed rally in the ninth for FSC. A leadoff walk, followed by two singles, including a Collins RBI hit to right center scored one run with two on and no outs. A single by E. Riley up the middle loaded the bases with no outs as Chris McKenna pinch-hit for Josh Hines. McKenna had two strikes before being hit by a pitch, which was later ruled that he leaned into the strike for a strikeout and first out. Guthrie struck out the two succeeding Moccasins to win 6-5 for FT and hand FSC a disappointing loss with three left stranded for the third time in the game.
 
Florida Tech's Vassallo was awarded the win and Guthrie a save on Rollyson's first loss of the season. Duffy and E. Riley each had two hits to lead the team, though the team was outhit eight-to-10 overall. FSC left at least one stranded in each of the innings, except the first, in a tough 15 LOB to FT's eight.
 
The Mocs will return to full conference action as they travel to West Palm Beach this weekend to take on Palm Beach Atlantic University beginning Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. and a Saturday doubleheader.
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