Ryan Vigue got the win for the Eagles
NAIA No. 9 Embry-Riddle Beats NCAA II No. 4 Florida Southern, 4-3
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle Eagles, the new No. 9 team in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, took a 4-3 decision from the NCAA II No. 4 Florida Southern Moccasins on Tuesday night in Lakeland, Fla. The Eagles move to 33-14 with the win, as FSC drops just their seventh game of the year at 37-7.
The Eagles looked to capitalize in the first inning after Dane Beaudette reached on an infield single then moved to second then third on consecutive wild pitches by Mocs' starter Jake Guengerich. Austin Goolsby drew a four-pitch walk, followed by Branden Roper-Hubbert beating out a throw from the second baseman after Goolsby was retired at second when Roper-Hubbert hit a sharp ground ball to the third baseman. Beaudette crossed home on the play, giving Roper-Hubbert his 32nd RBI of the season, and the Eagles an early 1-0
lead.
Ryan Vigue took the hill for Embry-Riddle, looking strong in the bottom half of the first inning, retiring three FSC batters in order.
The Eagles struck again in the second inning with two outs. Alex Guzman doubled down the left field line then was knocked home when Tyler Robbins did the same down the right field line. Robbins moved to second when Beaudette battled Guengerich to a full count before watching ball four high. Goolsby smashed the first pitch he saw to the wall in right-center to score both Robbins and Beaudette, giving the Blue and Gold a 4-0 cushion.
The cushion would shrink to just one run after a three-run home run from FSC's Zach Maggard. The long ball came on a 1-0 pitch from Vigue and barely got over the outstretched glove of Eagle right fielder Guzman.Beaudette proved his worth in the outfield during the third inning when he made an amazing diving catch of a line drive that would have scored two Moccasin runners who had each walked to reach base. Beaudette fired the ball into the infield where Robbins stepped on second to double up Colin Kaline, who had already rounded third, to end the inning.
Vigue was stellar throughout the rest of his stint, striking out six Florida Southern batters, including ending two consecutive innings on swinging strikes. The lefty allowed just five hits to the Mocs while walking five. He finished with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing just three runs, all on Maggard's homer. Vigue improved his season record to 4-2 with the victory.
Corey Bevis relieved Vigue with one out in the home half of the sixth after Vigue had walked two batters. Bevis got Maggard to fly-out to Beaudette on the first pitch he threw then struck out Kyle Gibbs on a 3-2 pitch that Gibbs swung through and missed to retire the side.
Bevis went 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit with seven strikeouts in his scoreless appearance as he faced just one Mocs' batter above the minimum. He ended the game by striking out the last two FSC batters. It was his second save of the year.
Robbins finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored while Goolsby contributed two RBIs.
The Eagles travel to West Palm Beach this weekend to face Northwood in a three-game set. The final Sun Conference series begins Friday at 6 p.m.