Mocs Cut Short in Midweek Loss to the Tars

LAKELAND, Fla. – A back-and-forth battle ended in favor of the visiting team as the Florida Southern College baseball team lost 6-5 against Rollins College on Tuesday night at Henley Field.
 
The Mocs (12-21, 6-9 SSC) traded runs for the first five innings and eventually took the lead in the sixth, but ultimately lost in a costly eighth inning. The Tars (19-14, 10-8) outhit the Mocs 12-to-9 and capitalized on three runs in the eighth to take and maintain the lead in the nonconference bout.
 
Florida Southern had three with a multi-hit game as Bryce Safferwich, Jack Duffy, and Jaiden Warde each had two hits. There were five errors between the two teams in tough infielding and failed pickoff situations. A combined 11 pitchers were used as Rollins emptied the bullpen with seven on the mound. Wyatt Clark had the start for FSC, followed by three more pitchers in relief.
 
The game opened with a run in each half of the first inning after an RBI single by Rollins to start. A leadoff single by Jevin Relaford and following stolen base, set up an RBI single by Safferwich to tie the game. Mocs also had singles by Duffy and Warde for bases loaded and one out, but all were left on to settle for the 1-1 ballgame.
 
Neither team scored in the second, but RC took the lead in the third with an RBI single and a 2-1 score. FSC was hitless in three straight innings as Rollins extended its lead to two runs with a solo run in the fifth. The Mocs were able to score one run in the bottom half off a sacrifice fly by Safferwich to score Chris McKenna. Tanner Rollyson held RC to one hit in the sixth in relief of Clark, which allowed FSC to take the lead in the bottom half with two runs off two hits. Warde scored after an early double, as did Grady Maguire, who was walked, to make it a 4-3 FSC lead.
 
Rollins had four hits and three runs in the top of the eighth to take a two-run lead and a 6-4 game. FSC had a strong bottom half of the inning with another leadoff hit, this time by El'Rico Riley with a double. McKenna then had a single to load the bases with Nick Collins on base from an early walk. Relaford had an infield bat that the Tars prevented one run with a putout at home, though a throwing error by the catcher allowed Brady Doorey to score after pinch-running for Collins. Another fielder's choice ended the inning, though just a one-run game into the ninth.
 
Lucas Perez relieved Mitchell LeRoy in the top of the ninth and had two strikeouts to keep RC off base and allow an opportunity for the home team to tie or win the game. Mocs had a foul out, strikeout, and a lasered lineout to the pitcher to end the game with a 6-5 Rollins win. LeRoy had the loss as Rollins' Burr won his first of the season and Thomas his second save in 2024.
 
The Mocs will remain at home to host Lynn University for a conference series beginning on Friday, April 12, set for a 6 p.m. first pitch and a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. to follow.
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