SAINT LEO, Fla - After trailing 7-1 in the third inning, the Eckerd Tritons (21-26) rallied to make it a 7-5 score but would eventually fall to the Saint Leo Lions (18-30) by that score on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at SLU's Southard Stadium.
In the top of the first, Eckerd took a 1-0 lead on a leadoff homer by
Chris Clinton. Saint Leo, however, responded in a big way, jumping on the Tritons for four runs in the bottom of the first, an inning that included a two-run single by JD Cook.
Ahead 4-1, Saint Leo would go on to add three more runs in the third, making it 7-1.
Eckerd would trim the Lions' lead to 7-3, with an unearned run in the fourth and an RBI single by
Mike Sinicola in the sixth. In the seventh,
Minervino Labrador made it a two-run game on a two-RBI single through the left side, making it 7-5.
Matt Smith, however, would come on and record the final four outs of the game to earn a save and a victory for the Lions.
Cory Casuso earned the win for Saint Leo after pitching five innings while allowing two runs on four hits.
JW Kilpatrick took the loss for Eckerd.
The Tritons will return to action on Friday, April 24 as it travels to Winter Park, Fla. to face the Rollins Tars at 6pm in SSC action.
