MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University Baseball (29-13, 9-7 SSC) was edged out 10-8 by Florida Southern in the first game of their Sunshine State Conference series. Both teams combined for 21 hits and 18 runs in the Friday evening affair.
The Bucs struck jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead in the first inning. John Servidio doubled through the left side driving in Andrew Frezza and Nick Shaw. Two batters later, Carlos Gomez allowed Servidio to score on a RBI single.
In the second, Shaw added another run with a RBI single up the middle driving in Brett Rossi from second base giving the Buccaneers the 4-2 advantage early on.
Gomez added two more runs in the third with a two run shot over the right field wall, as the Buccaneers went up 6-5.
After the third inning the pitching on both sides settled down as neither side scored another run until the top of the sixth.
Starter Bobby Hernandez (5-0) bounced back after being roughed up in the early goings pitching five innings giving up six hits, five earned runs while striking out six.
In the top of the six, Arden McWilliams homered off Barry reliever Brian Mastin. The homer tied the contest up at 6-6. In the following inning, Florida Southern tagged on two more runs when Trae Gore drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Brian Schultz from third. Reliever Josh Holmes came in for Mastin and was able to strike out the next batter however, the following batter, McWilliams, drew another bases loaded walk. Holmes rebounded by striking out David Golliner for the third out of the inning and getting out of the bases loaded jam. Holmes finished the contest with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Rossi helped the Bucs respond in the bottom of the seventh with a clutch two out RBI single.
Mitch Rodriguez began the bottom of the eighth by reaching first on an error by Mocs’ third baseman McWilliams. Frezza then drew a walk to put runners at first and second with no out for clean up man Servidio, who delivered a RBI single up the middle which tied the contest up at 8-8.
Unfortunately for the Bucs, Florida Southern added two more runs in the top of the ninth after Mike Tomoleoni went down with an injury after striking out the first batter he faced. Brian Milanes came in for Tomoleoni and gave up a two run home run to McWilliams which proved to be the game winner for the Mocs.
Servidio and Gomez both finished the game with two hits and three RBI. Rossi and Shaw tallied one RBI each.
Daniel Tillman (3-1) earned the win for the Mocs while Tomoleoni (2-3)was charged with the loss for the Buccaneers.
Barry and Florida Southern will conclude the three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader at Feinbloom Field. First game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm
Florida Southern 10, Barry 8 (04/18/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida Southern.... 113 001 202 - 10 10 1 (23-20, 11-7 SSC)
Barry……................. 312 000 110 - 8 11 5 (29-13, 9-7 SSC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Florida Southern - Russell; Cseh(3); Tillman(7). Barry - B.Hernandez; Mastin(6);
Holmes(7); Tomoleoni(9); Milanes(9); Servidio(9).
Win-Tillman(3-1) Loss-Tomoleoni(2-3) T-3:55 A-220
HR FSB - McWilliams 2 (9).
HR BUB - Gomez (6).
Milanes faced 1 batter in the 9th.