Tommy Hull, Staff Writer
Seventh-ranked Mocs baseball’s streak continued this past weekend when they cruised past Palm Beach Atlantic in a three-game set, 11-3, 14-5 and 10-2 at Henley Field, and upped their record to 23-7 on the season. The Mocs won 15 of their past 16 games.
Junior third baseman Mitch Reeves was hot at the plate in the game one 11-3 victory. Reeves drove in three runs including an RBI double in the first inning.
Mocs starting pitcher, senior Ben Richardson, danced around seven hits, and only surrendered three runs in five innings to draw the win for FSC. Richardson, improved to 8-1 on the year, with the team winning in his last five appearances.
After heavy rain Saturday, games two and three were both played on Sunday.
In the second game win, sophomore Logan Browning, who also started the game on the mound, and Reeves both belted three-run homers to surge past PBA. The first three hitters in the Mocs lineup drove in 8 of the team’s 14 runs, as senior Sam Machonis added three hits and two RBI’s.
Junior reliever Mitch McCarthy picked up the win, throwing 3.1 innings, and only surrendering one hit.
Game three was more of the same for FSC where the Mocs put a 10-2 in the scorebooks. Junior catcher Kevin Fuller slugged three hits, including two doubles and an RBI.
Junior first baseman Jason Sierra also hit a two-run double as their red-hot offense totaled 15 hits for the game. Starter, junior Cameron Hanes grabbed the win, only giving up a respectable two runs in five innings.
Collectively, the Mocs bullpen was remarkable throughout the series as a unit, surrendering no runs and just five hits in 12.1 innings of work.
The Mocs have now won seven straight, their second longest streak of the season. They had previously won eight straight prior to their 12-6 loss against Embry-Riddle on March 19.
Out of those last 16 games, the Mocs bats have posted double-digit runs in 10 games and improved their overall win percentage to .767.
Nationally, the Mocs leapt from a 19th national ranking to a ninth place spot. However, Sunshine State Conference rival Tampa is ranked at No. 7 with a 25-6 season record and a 10-2 record. The Mocs are set to face the Spartans on the road for a three game series April 22-23.
FSC will now begin a significant 10-game road trip, where they will face SSC teams Flagler and Rollins in addition to Tampa.
