ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After being out-slugged in game one 21-6, the Eckerd Tritons (20-22, 3-12 SSC) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh of game two, including a two-out walk-off three-run homerun by
Minervino Labrador, to win game two 8-5 and salvage a doubleheader split against the Nova Southeastern Sharks (30-11, 6-9 SSC) on Friday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex.
In game one, the Sharks posted four runs in the top of the second inning, all of which were unearned, as they took advantage of two Eckerd errors in the inning. In the third, NSU expanded its lead to 6-0 on a two-run homer by Riaan Furstenburg, his first of three in the game and his third of five in the series. In total, the Sharks pounded out eight homers in game one.
NSU starter Miles Mikolas took care of the rest, pitching seven complete innings while allowing four runs on 10 hits and striking out eight batters against no walks.
Triton starter
Francisco Collazo took the loss while Mikolas earned the win.
In game two, the Sharks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after scoring three runs in the first on a two-run double by J.D. Martinez and an RBI single by Pete Simon.
The Tritons responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs of their own on a wild pitch and a balk, making it 3-2. The Sharks, however, would add a run in the top of the third on an RBI single by Dale Alberto, extending its lead to 4-2.
Eckerd trimmed the Sharks' lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by
Dan Branca but NSU would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Martinez scored on a fielding error to make it 6-4.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Matt Abraham sparked the Tritons' rally with a leadoff homer, his first of the season. Later in the inning,
Jarrett Mackin tied the game on an RBI single but with two outs, it was Labrador who proved to be the hero, launching the game-winning three-run homer to left, his fourth of the season.
Eckerd starter
Joey Cuda earned the win after going seven complete innings and allowing five runs while NSU reliever Sean Albury took the loss.
Eckerd will return to action on Tuesday, April 14 as it travels to Warner University to take on the Royals, beginning at 7pm.
