LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College baseball team set new season highs as the Mocs smashed four home runs in a 22-6 rout of Florida Tech on Friday night at Henley Field.
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The Mocs (16-30, 10-18 SSC) had two grand slams, the first such instance in recent history, with a new season-high 22 runs and four home runs in a single game for a great start to the final series of 2024. The Panthers (17-31, 8-20 SSC) quickly fell behind despite five runs of their own in the third, but the Mocs continued to rack up the runs in a 22-6 game-one victory.
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After a quick 1-2-3 in the top of the first with
Tanner Rollyson starting on the mound, the Mocs had seven runs off four hits in the bottom of the first echoing a 10-run first inning just last week against Rollins. Hits in the first came by
El'Rico Riley, Nick Collins, Jaiden Warde, and
Rohsean Riley with three walks mixed in the rounding lineup for the first three runs. A pitching change by the Panthers with two outs and the bases loaded led to the first grand slam of the day as R. Riley smashed a four-run homer.
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A scoreless second for FT led to a two-run homer by Warde to bring the score to a 9-0 FSC lead early as Collins was the baserunner after another single. The Panthers had five runs in the third inning, including a two-run homer, though
Lake Fisher entered in relief to leave three on and maintain a 9-5 FSC lead.
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Runs continued to flow as FSC had a two-run double by
Chris McKenna and an RBI single by Warde in the bottom of the third to take a seven-run lead. FSC had only two scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth but continued to score in the final three innings with another grand slam in the sixth.
Jack Duffy had the bases-loaded spot to add four runs and the second grand slam of the night, and FSC added another run with a solo homer by
Jevin Relaford two batters later. Wild pitches and walks added a few more runs to total eight FSC runs in the bottom of the sixth and a 20-5 lead.
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Florida Tech had a single run in the sixth as the final run for the Panthers, though FSC added a single run on a passed ball in the seventh and another run in the eighth for a 22-6 final score.
Wyatt Clark,
Justin Stewart, and
Rhett Raymer entered in relief for the final innings, including Raymer striking two of his three batters in the top of the ninth to end the game.
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The Mocs outhit the Panthers 17-to-8 as six Moccasins had a multi-hit night. Warde led the team with a 4-for-4 outing and six RBI with Duffy and R. Riley's grand slams each adding four RBI. FSC drew 13 walks and Relaford had two stolen bases on the day. Fisher was credited with the win for his effective 2.1 innings in relief of Rollyson.
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The Mocs wrap up the 2024 season with a doubleheader tomorrow, May 11, set for a 1 p.m. first pitch. A pregame ceremony honoring 12 seniors will take place before game one at Henley Field.
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