Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Riding an adrenaline rush from the program's first-ever win, Colorado Christian University rallied with a four-run seventh inning to down the Eckerd College softball program, 6-3, on a chilly Saturday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Currently in its inaugural season, the Cougars (2-2, 0-0) defeated Lynn University just moments before in the game prior. After beating Lynn on Friday, the Tritons (3-2, 0-0 SSC) fell victim to late-stage theatrics similar to how yesterday's game against Georgia College & State University unfolded.
Eckerd fell to 1-2 in the three-day EC College Spring Invitational.
The Tritons (3-2, 0-0 SSC) carried a 3-2 lead into the top of the seventh before the frame unraveled in a hurry. A leadoff single put pinch runner Gabriella Thury at third with no outs after back-to-back wild pitches from EC starter
Kaitlyn Dougherty.
Thury scored on a sacrifice fly to knot things up at 3-3, but an untimely two-out fielding error at third base loaded the bases for Alexa Coffing.
Coffing singled to the pitcher's mound to score the go-ahead run and Shelbi Long chopped a pinch-hit grounder through the left side of the infield for two more insurance runs.
The Cougars spoiled another strong outing from the sophomore Dougherty, who was locked into a duel with her mound counterpart Hanna Rapaport. Dougherty mowed down the Cougars in order through the first two innings and helped her cause at the plate with a 3-for-3 day.
After clipping the net fencing in the outfield against Lynn yesterday for a double,
Sarah Agnew almost had another home run, this time a little more unconventional.
The junior backstop roped a triple down the right field line past a diving defender, but her bid for an inside-the-park home run while rounding third was thwarted as she was thrown out at home even though it appeared CCU's catcher was blocking the plate.
Agnew's hit scored Dougherty and
Kristen Schurr as part of a three-run third frame. Dougherty ripped an RBI single up the middle earlier in the game.
Dougherty is now hitting .600 (9-for-15) through the first five games this season.
Defense reigned early as
Emily Wiemken and
Alex Sasso each robbed hits from their first base and second base positions. Sasso's leaping grab potentially saved a run from scoring at second base. Shortstop
Chelsea Jeffares also made an over-the-shoulder grab while retreating into shallow left center.
The Tritons will look to close out the tournament with a pair of wins tomorrow, facing Lindenwood (Mo.) University at 9 a.m. and Palm Beach Atlantic University at 11:30 a.m.
