Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The hot seven-game winning streak assembled by the Eckerd College baseball program was cooled down by visiting Thomas (Ga.) University in a Tuesday night contest, 6-3, at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Alex Del Monte homered to deep left field on the third pitch of the evening seen by the Tritons (11-5, 0-0 SSC), but a total of five defensive errors complicated efficiency along with winds that gusted in excess of 20 mph throughout the night.
Senior corner outfielder
Dan Capra went 2-for-3 at the plate and swiped three stolen bases.
Battling the uncooperative weather elements, Eckerd tried to shut down the Night Hawks (12-9 A.I.I.) with an approach by committee, sending eight different pitchers out the mound.
Both teams managed seven hits on the evening, but EC's uncharacteristic total of five miscues weren't all reflective on the windy conditions.
With the exception of an overran ball in right field that was misjudged off the flight of the bat (possibly wind-aided), the Tritons booted balls on the infield and airmailed several throws that proved costly.
Del Monte put the Tritons on the board first with a towering solo shot on the third offering from Night Hawks' starter Ben Overman, his second home run of the spring.
EC starter Jordan Huchro worked around a pair of defensive errors in the second inning to strike out the final two batters of the frame on swings.
Thomas knotted things up in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly and broke the 1-1 tie on a two-base throwing error in the fifth inning as Tritons' first baseman
Joe McLemore sailed a throw into the outfield after attempting to go 'around the horn' following a 5-3 groundout.
A failed pickoff attempt set the table for a Ryan Lummus RBI single after a 1-2-3 run-scoring bunt was laid down by Austin Corbitt to key a two-run sixth stanza.
But the Tritons battled back and scored twice in their next turn of plate appearances, taking advantage of a
Bryant Gibson RBI grounder and a run-scoring double by McLemore. A bases-loaded walk and another sacrifice flyout padded the Night Hawks' lead as Nick Sutton worked the final two innings for a save.
Huchro left after two innings of no-hit ball and was picked up by his teammates in relief. Freshman catcher Mike Abraham made his first career start and gunned down a runner trying to steal to end Thomas' third inning.
The Tritons hit the road for their Sunshine State Conference-opening affair at Barry University in Miami Shores on Friday. Official start time is set for 6 p.m.
