LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida Southern College baseball team split its Friday doubleheader against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Henley Field. FSC won the series after last night's 20-6 win.
The Moccasins (34-13, 18-9 SSC) had a lengthy 13-inning bout against the Eagles (23-24, 8-19 SSC), ultimately falling 4-3 in the first game of the day. The Mocs rebounded with a 5-3 win in game two to secure the series win, 2-1.
Entering the day with 99 career stolen bases,
Jevin Relaford stole two bases in the first game of the day to tie the program record of 101 career SBs set by Scott Bikowski (1996-99). In his first at-bat of the series finale today, Relaford got on base and stole the 102
nd bag of his career to set the new program record. Relaford broke the single season stolen base record for the Mocs on April 18, surpassing the previous record of 49 by Nelson Rood in 1983. Relaford has 57 SB after today's games, second among NCAA Division II programs.
GAME 1: FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, EMBRY-RIDDLE 4 (13 INNINGS)
A low-scoring game compared to last night's 20-run offense by FSC opened with a sac fly by
Grant Thoroman in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team scored in the second and third inning before a throwing error led to
Rohsean Riley making it a 2-0 ballgame. Another scoreless inning in the fifth preceded a solo homer by
Noah Rabin in the sixth for a three-run lead by the Mocs.
Jordan Fox had the start for FSC, allowing just one hit in his six innings of scoreless action. However, a pitching change in the top of the seventh turned in favor of ERAU as the Eagles tied the game 3-3, with an RBI double and two RBI single. The Mocs had a great chance to walk off in the bottom of the ninth with two runners on with no outs, though three straight outs sent the game into extras. A pitching duel commenced with great relief outings by both teams for a 3-3 game into the 13
th inning. Embry-Riddle took the lead in the top of the 13
th after a pitching change, 4-3, with the Mocs unable to answer in the extra-inning loss.
Robert Tracy III was handed the loss with ERAU's Baslam his first win of the season.
GAME 2: FLORIDA SOUTHERN 5, EMBRY-RIDDLE 3
The Eagles carried the momentum into the start of the series finale, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The Mocs answered with a sac fly by Thoroman and an RBI single by
Ahmad Fitts to even the score. Relaford, leading off for the game, got on base with a single and stole second to break the career record of stolen bags, the 102
nd of his career. Thoroman then homered in the third to take the lead, with another two runs scored by FSC in the fourth on an RBI triple by
Mikey Scott and an RBI single by Thoroman. The Eagles managed a single run in the seventh inning, but the Mocs held on to win 5-3 to take the series.
Logan Adams got the start for the Mocs, going six innings of productive work, earning his fifth win of the year.
Tanner Rollyson took care of the final three innings, earning his second save of the season, allowing just one run in his 14 batters faced.
The Mocs will end the regular season with a three-day home series against Rollins College starting Thursday, May 8 at 3 p.m. at Henley Field.
