#13 Mocs Win Series Over #1 Spartans With Split Doubleheader

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 13 Florida Southern College baseball team split the Saturday doubleheader to win the Sunshine State Conference series against No. 1 University of Tampa at Henley Field.
 
The Moccasins (24-7, 9-3 SSC) had a great game one to secure a series win, holding off a late rally for the 11-8 game one win. The Spartans (25-6, 10-2 SSC) had a big middle part of the series finale to prevent the FSC sweep, winning 4-3. This was the first series win over the Spartans since 2022.
 
GAME 1: FLORIDA SOUTHERN 11, TAMPA 8
The Tampa Spartans were first to score in the first inning off an RBI single from Mike Valdez, though they left two on for a 1-0 start. Florida Southern then rattled off six runs in the bottom of the second inning, led by RBI shots from Cory Filley, Cleary Simpson, Mikey Scott, Grant Thoroman, and Noah Rabin. The Spartans answered in the top of the third with two runs by an RBI double by Valdez and sac fly for Nico Saladino, though a pitching change for FSC secured the final out via BJ Rivera on the mound to keep a 6-3 lead. The lead was cut to one run after another two-run inning by UTampa, though FSC scored from an RBI single by Thoroman for a 7-5 score through four innings.
 
The FSC lead was extended to six runs after a big four-run inning by the Mocs, capitalizing on errors and a three-run homer by Ahmad Fitts for an 11-5 score. The Spartans planted a rally, scoring three unanswered runs to bring the game within three runs through the eighth, 11-8. Robert Tracy III entered in the ninth inning to retire batters and seal the 11-8 win and a save; the win was credited to Rivera, his third of the season. Skylar Gonzalez started for Tampa and was handed his first loss as a Spartan.
 
GAME 2: FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, TAMPA 4
Florida Southern was first to score in the series finale, opening with an RBI single by Scott and a sac fly by Chris McKenna for a 2-0 lead in the first. FSC starter Logan Adams kept the Spartans scoreless for four innings while maintaining the 2-0 lead. The first run given up was in the fifth inning off an RBI hit, later taking the lead 4-2, with three runs scored in the top of the sixth inning. Scott had a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth but was unable to add more with a 4-3 Tampa lead into the ninth inning. The Mocs had a two-out single by Filley, but he was left on for the 4-3 Tampa win. Adams was given the loss, though the Mocs had great relieving pitching by Tanner Rollyson to keep the game within reach in the final three innings. Jake Stipp for UTampa earned his sixth win of the season with the save by Ryan Stefiuk.
 
The Mocs will host Nova Southeastern University in a midweek game on Tuesday, April 1, set for a 5 p.m. start at Henley Field.
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