Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd Tritons (14-12, 0-7 SSC) nearly overcame a 7-3 deficit but eventually fell to the top-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins (25-4, 5-2 SSC), 9-6, on Friday evening at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Tritons took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring single up the middle by
Stephen Pelc. The Mocs would answer quickly with a run of their own, tying the game, 1-1, on an RBI double by leadoff man Trae Gore in the top of the third.
The Moccasins then took a 4-1 lead on a three-run homer to center by Zach Maggard in the fourth. Eckerd would trim the Southern lead to 4-3, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, including a bases loaded walk by
Matt Abraham.
Both teams' pitching kept their opponents off the scoreboard until the top of the eighth when Florida Southern expanded its lead to 7-3 with the help of another homer by Maggard.
The Tritons, however, would no go quietly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth, with two of those runs coming on a two-run single off the bat of
Wess Hollins, making it a 7-6 game.
The Mocs would put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, though, posting two more runs, including a solo homer by Gore and an RBI double by Wade Kirkland.
The Tritons threatened in the bottom of the ninth, getting runners on second and third after a double by reserve 1B
Joey LaRose. The game ended controversially, however, as Hollins was called out at first on a play in which he appeared to have legged out an infield single.
Daniel Tillman, who entered the game in the eighth inning, recorded a two-inning save for the Mocs while Max Russell, who pitched five innings, earned the win after allowing one earned run and striking out eight.
Jake Wilder (2-3) took the tough-luck loss after allowing just four runs in six and a third innings.
Eckerd will return to action Saturday as hit hosts Florida Southern in SSC doubleheader action beginning at 1pm.
