EC vs. Barry University (Game 1)
EC vs. Barry University (Game 2)
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Eckerd College baseball program was victim of a three-game series sweep to begin the busy Sunshine State Conference slate over the weekend, falling in a doubleheader against Barry University on Saturday, 5-3 and 3-2.
The Tritons (11-8, 0-3 SSC) have lost four straight following a seven-game win streak prior to entering league play. The Buccaneers (8-8, 3-0 SSC) completed another series of improbable rallies, one night removed from a pair of four-run comebacks in Friday's nine-inning affair.
Game one was a defensive struggle as both teams combined for just eight hits in the line score. The Tritons had five of those hits and EC starter
Johnny Lancaster yielded just three base knocks in a strong 7 2/3 inning outing.
But one of those three hits came on a two-run single by Barry's Bryant Elliott in the bottom of the first inning and the Tritons committed miscues in the field that amounted to four total errors.
The Tritons put their offense in gear in the sixth frame, receiving an RBI single from senior
David Regidor and an RBI double from Lee Spinelle.
Even though Spinelle was thrown out trying to stretch his two-bagger into a triple, an RBI sacrifice fly from
Joe McLemore put the Tritons in front for a moment in the top of the seventh inning.
A bizarre play in the eighth inning reversed Barry's fortunes down a run as EC center fielder
Bryant Gibson lost a fly ball in the sun that turned out to be a three-run inside-the-park homer after he was hit in the face trying to track it down.
Barry's T.J. Mullins pitched two perfect innings in relief to collect the win.
The finale was also tightly contested as both teams rapped out seven hits amidst a pair of strong pitching performances. EC's
Jake Wilder went 5 2/3 frames and was tagged for all three Bucs' runs despite fanning four.
The Tritons manufactured a run in their first series of at-bats against Jordan Wellander as
Alex Del Monte began the game with a double. He came home to score on a
Joey LaRose run-scoring hit as Eckerd enjoyed the early edge.
But Wellander would settle down and hurled nearly six consecutive scoreless innings before a
Dan Capra triple drove in Keegan Oberer in the seventh inning, who finished with two hits in the game.
Barry tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Bucs a 3-1 lead. Eckerd would score one run in the seventh on Capra's hit, but Mullins was again summoned out of the pen and he managed to get the final out of the game.
The Tritons will take part in a high-profile scrimmage against the Netherlands National Team next Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. in St. Petersburg.
