Box Score - EC vs. Lindenwood
Box Score - EC vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Biting cold temperatures in the 30's prompted long-sleeved attire and earwarmers as the Eckerd College Spring Invitational came to a close on Sunday, but the Tritons suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses against Lindenwood (Mo.) University and Palm Beach Atlantic University.
The Tritons (3-4, 0-0 SSC) fell against the Lions, 11-9, in a three-hour, 21-minute marathon contest that lasted 10 innings with a tiebreaker (runner starts the inning on second base) and were victims of a 12-1, five-inning defeat by the Sailfish in the conclusion.
Sophomore
Kaitlyn Dougherty continued her torrid start to the season at the plate and has a current seven-game hit streak. She went 3-for-3 in game one while logging 8 2/3 innings on the mound and leads the team in hitting with a .565 average to date (13-for-23).
The Lions' first swing of the game was a triple by Sally Brookshier and Lindenwood grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
But the Tritons solved Lindenwood freshman starter Kendall Ryndak by the third inning, chasing the righty out after 2 2/3 frames and exploding for five runs. The Eckerd offense tagged Ryndak for four of those runs as
Chelsea Jeffares,
Alex Sasso and and
Kristen Schurr, all had RBI hits in the third.
With a 5-1 lead intact, the Tritons yielded separate runs in the fourth and fifth innings, including a solo home run to left field by Emily Johnson.
But the all-too familiar theme of a late-stage rally developed (Georgia College & State, Colorado Christian University) and the Tritons' two-run lead in the seventh evaporated after an RBI groundout and a dropped ball at first base that would have been the final out of the game.
Each team manufactured one run in the eighth inning and the Tritons dug deep to storm back from a two-run deficit in the ninth, capped by a bases-loaded walk drawn by Sasso to plate Sabrina Lolo.
Jeffares also clubbed an RBI single in the ninth and she finished 4-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI in the opener.
The hit parade continued for Lindenwood in the top of the 10th and four consecutive base knocks gave the Lions an 11-8 lead. Jeffares brought EC a run closer, but the magic ended against Megan Noe, who went seven innings in relief for the win.
Kara Anderson went 3-for-4 and scored three times, Lisa Santos enjoyed a 3-for-3 day at the plate and Mary Pippin hurled 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win as the fundamentally-sound Sailfish rapped out 13 hits.
PBA scored three in both the first and second innings before tacking two more in the third and four more in the fourth frame.
The Tritons jumped out in front as the visiting team in their first set of plate appearances, scoring after an illegal pitch by Chris Donovan.
Eckerd will look to get back on the winning track next weekend, traveling to Northwood University and Flagler College for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
