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FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- Sophomore second baseman Billy Messer had two hits and collected two RBIs Friday morning to lead the nationally ranked Rock to its third win in as many games this spring, a 5-3 triumph over Concordia College of New York.

Messer was one of four Rock players who had two hits as part of SRU's 14-hit attack.  Sophomore catcher Matt Adams, senior designated hitter Jim Eimiller and senior center fielder #M.J. Parsons# each also had a pair of hits in the game.

Sophomore southpaw Rich Hocanson was SRU's starting pitcher and picked up his second win of the season. He allowed one earned run on six hits, struck out seven and walked two in six innings of work.

Junior right-hander Don Pugliese allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out five in the final three frames.

The Rock jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, keyed by a leadoff triple to center field by junior shortstop Rich Michalek. Billy Messer followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate the run.

SRU expanded its lead to 2-0 with a run in the second inning. Junior third baseman Billy Herman slapped a leadoff single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior left fielder Matt Messer and scored on an RBI single to center by junior right fielder Scott Bender.

The Green and White continued its run-every-inning routine in the third frame as Matt Messer delivered a two-out RBI single.

Parsons led off The Rock fifth with a single and scored one out later on Eimiller's RB I double to push The Rock lead to 4-0 before Concordia scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Billy Messer's RBI single to center scored Eimiller from second base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to account for SRU's final run, which the Green and White a 5-1 advantage.

Concordia made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning as it scored two runs to trim the margin to 5-3 and had the potential tying run at the plate witn only one out. Pugliese promptly slammed the door, though, as he recorded a swinging strikeout and induced a game-ending ground ball.

The Rock stranded 13 runners on base in the course of the game, while Concordia left eight men on base.

SRU turned a pair of double plays, while Concordia had one twin-killing.

The Rock, ranked 23rd in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association national poll and 26th by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, continues its annual spring-break trip in Florida with a 12:30 p.m. game Saturday vs. Northwood (Mich.).