LAKELAND, Fla. – University of West Florida baseball (0-3) dropped a doubleheader to complete its series at No. 19 Florida Southern (3-0) Saturday, falling by finals of 7-5 and 4-1. The Argos will open their home schedule on Friday vs. Rollins. First pitch this season at Jim Spooner Field is set for 5:00 p.m.
"I hope we learn that we've got to have more heart, and we have to get after it more. We've got to have more investment in it," UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat said when asked about the greatest lesson the weekend had to offer.
The Argos combined for just 11 hits in the two games. Nick Kerkmann finished the day with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Nic Strasser scored twice, and, like Kerkmann, also hit his first home run of the season. Strasser and Matthew Estrada combined to score four of the team's five runs in Game 1.
"Florida Southern just kicked our butts this weekend," said Jeffcoat. "Bottom line: we couldn't produce much offense. If we did get some runners on, we couldn't capitalize."
The losses dropped the Argos to 1-8 vs. the Mocs over the last three seasons. The teams are not scheduled to meet again in regular season play this year.
Game 1: Fla. Southern 7, West Florida 5
UWF got off to a good start in the top half of the first, building a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Kerkmann that scored Estrada. The lead did not last long though, as FSC's Hayden Marze took West Florida starter Jared Middleton for a 2-out grand slam in the bottom of the first to swing the early inning in favor of the Mocs.
UWF responded in the fourth, playing small ball to even the game. Both Estrada and Strasser laid down bunts that forced Florida Southern errors. The miscues, plus another Kerkmann RBI, helped the Argos to post three unearned runs in the frame off Mocs starter Trevor Castell. Florida Southern would finish with six errors in the game, just one off the program record.
Middleton (5 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 H, 4 SO, 2 BB) settled in on the mound for West Florida. He did not allow a run after the first and pitched through the fifth. He set away ten straight to finish the start.
In the seventh, with the score tied 4-4, the Mocs broke the game open once again via the longball. This time it was Jacob Teter, who blasted off vs. Argo relief man Hunter Lucas for a three-run home run to make it 7-4. Strasser hit a solo homer vs. closer Leo Rodriguez in the ninth, but the Argos were unable to bridge the final deficit of two. Florida Southern scored all seven of its runs via two-out home runs.
Lucas (0-1) suffered the loss. Cole Crowder (1-0), who pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Mocs, earned the win. The save was Rodriguez's second of the series and of the season.
Game 2: Fla. Southern 4, West Florida 1 (7 innings)
Florida Southern once again got out to a lead in the first inning via homer. After the Argos left two in scoring position in the opening frame, the Mocs struck against UWF starter Kirk Maddox. Cody Burgess took the Auburn transfer deep to make it 1-0 early.
In the third, it was Burgess again off of Maddox for a second solo home run to make it 2-0. Kerkmann responded in the fourth with a solo shot of his own to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Jacob Silverstein led off the top of the fifth for the Argos with a base hit but was ultimately stranded at second as the potential tying run. The Mocs acquired some insurance later in the frame, using an Austin Mauer RBI single to stretch their advantage to 3-1. An RBI base hit by Dylan Costa built the lead to three in the sixth.
UWF boarded two in the seventh and final frame, but a fielder's choice off the bat of Strasser ended the contest. Maddox, who went 3 2/3 innings while allowing four hits, two runs (two earned), two walks and striking out four, suffered his first loss of the year. FSC starter J.J. Niekro (1-0) earned the win by going six innings and limiting UWF to five hits and one run. Mike Palaez earned his first save.
The Argos stranded six baserunners in the game, while FSC left eight. Avery Geyer and Alex Knight pitched behind Maddox. Geyer allowed two runs (two earned) on six hits in just under two innings. Knight posted his second straight scoreless appearance, recording the final two outs of the sixth.
UWF will take on Rollins Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Jim Spooner Field. The teams will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
For the latest information on UWF baseball, visit goargos.com and follow the team on Twitter @UWF_Baseball.
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