TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Southern College baseball (17-13, 7-5 SSC) clinched a 3–1 victory over the No. 1 University of Tampa (26-5, 12-1 SSC) at the UTampa Baseball Field on Friday night. The Moccasins seized control with two runs in the fifth inning and added a critical insurance run in the ninth, while limiting Tampa to just four hits. The last time the Mocs beat the No. 1 team in the country was in last year's series against the No. 1 Spartans.
The game was locked in a scoreless tie through the first four innings. In the fifth,
Will Burke singled and later came home on a sacrifice fly by
Brady Doorey.
Brock Budacki also scored after a single by
Ryan Jenkins, giving the Mocs a 2–0 lead. Tampa answered back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, narrowing the gap to 2–1.
The score held until the top of the ninth when Budacki doubled and was substituted by pinch runner
TJ Eckert. Eckert advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by
Eli Thurmond, extending Florida Southern's lead to 3–1.
In the bottom of the ninth,
Aidan Kelley struck out the side, sealing the win for the Moccasins. The final score stood at 3–1 in favor of FSC.
Thurmond delivered with two hits, an RBI, and two stolen bases, showcasing his prowess on the field. Budacki contributed two hits, including a double, and scored a run, while
Mikey Scott added two hits, one a double.
Sachem Ramos pitched an impressive 5 2/3 innings, conceding just one earned run and striking out five for the win.
Casey O'Dell provided 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, and Kelley closed with 1 2/3 innings, striking out three without allowing a hit or walk, for his second save of the season. The pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts, and contributed to 12 Spartans left on base, including three in the bottom of the eighth inning in a crucial inning by Kelley.
Next up for Florida Southern is a road game against UTampa at 1 p.m. ET Saturday at Spartans Baseball Field in Tampa, Florida.
