EC vs. Florida Tech (Game 1)
EC vs. Florida Tech (Game 2)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Lindsy Dugan and Brooke Fisher each belted home runs, Lauren Cole had a combined five RBI on the day and Taylor Smith earned a pair of wins in relief, as Florida Tech swept the Eckerd College softball program in a Saturday doubleheader, 8-2 and 10-1.
The Panthers (18-21, 4-8 SSC) completed a three-game series sweep against the Tritons (9-31, 1-8 SSC) at the Turley Athletic Complex after beating Eckerd in Friday's night's contest, 6-3.
Cole delivered key run-scoring hits in the opener with an RBI single in the first inning and plated two more of her teammates by lining a two-out single up the middle in the second inning. That followed a Sasha Stepaniuk double that scored Emily Densem, who initially led off the second frame with a single.
Power was supplied in the form of Dugan, who launched a solo home run in the fifth inning, a towering shot to the deep part of left field.
One day after Fisher came through with a pinch-hit RBI double to highlight FT's four-run seventh inning in a comeback, she delivered off the bench again with a wind-aided two-run home run in the seventh again as the ball crashed against the scoreboard.
The Tritons scored runs in the bottom of the third and sixth stanzas, respectively.
Kristen Schurr roped an RBI double to get EC on the board first while
Taylor Styke dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt and
Chelsea Jeffares scored all the way from second following an errant throw by Stepaniuk at the hot corner.
Smith worked four innings for the winning decision, scattering four hits and also striking out four.
In game two, the athleticism from Panthers' starter Brianna Barth was on display as she made a pair of defensive gems in the field. Barth also had a hit and scored twice, mirroring her offensive numbers in the box score from Friday.
Moving to her right off the mound, Barth made a diving backhanded stab to snuff out one hit and later covered ground off the rubber in full speed to make another out with a high degree of difficulty.
Conversely, Florida Tech's first batter reached on a dropped popout to begin the game and set the tone for a three-run first inning on three base hits.
The Tritons answered in their first series of plate appearances against Barth as Schurr and
Alex Sasso each showed gap power and lined back-to-back doubles.
But the Eckerd offense stalled after that point against Barth and Smith as the Panthers added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings for insurance down the stretch. Cole also hit a two-run double to key a three-run fourth frame.
The Tritons have a week off to prepare for Rollins College next weekend for a three-game road trip in Winter Park. Friday's 7 p.m. contest precedes a Saturday twinbill getting underway at 1 p.m.
