EC vs. Lynn (Game One)
EC vs. Lynn (Game Two)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Jason Matusik and Anthony Boza each slugged home runs in the opener and Lynn University snapped a 1-1 tie deep into extras, sending the Eckerd College baseball program off the field with a pair of tough losses on Saturday, 6-4 and 2-1 (11 innings).
Matusik ripped a three-run shot in the sixth inning while Boza, one of the Sunshine State Conference's most dangerous hitters and current home run leader, capped the Fighting Knights' scoring with a solo blast in the top of the ninth.
Boza then sent Lynn to victory with an RBI double in the top of the 11th in the finale that scored Mike Diorio from first base.
Both teams combined for 29 hits in a wild opener as EC's
Dan Capra, Mike Abraham and
Bryant Gibson, all went 3-for-5.
Alex Del Monte enjoyed a 4-for-5 outing and Lee Spinelle also recorded a multi-hit performance.
The Tritons scored three runs in part to a two-run single by Del Monte and another RBI hit by Spinelle in the bottom of the sixth inning to close the deficit to just one run, down 5-4.
The Fighting Knights rallied back from one run down in game two to tie in the top of the seventh against
Johnny Lancaster, who came in during a save situation in relief of
Jake Wilder, who worked on preserving a one-run cushion for most of his outing.
Wilder enjoyed his best outing of the year, holding Lynn scoreless for six innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, in receiving the tough-luck no-decision. Despite not recording a strikeout, Wilder pitched carefully to contact against the Lynn offense and quieted the Fighting Knights' bats.
He was backed with some defensive gems in the field, including a nifty backhanded stab and a diving catch in foul territory near the fence by first baseman
Joe McLemore.
Lancaster put his forgettable seventh in the rearview mirror and was quickly locked in a duel with LU reliever Kentrail Pierce. Back-and-forth the two righties went before Boza delivered down the right-field line as Diorio led off the 11th with a walk.
Austin Bailey nailed the door shut with the save in relief of Pierce.
Capra put the Tritons on the board in the second with an RBI chopper up the middle that scored
Shane Bishop. Bishop began the inning with a double and Abraham reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with just one out.
The Tritons will face Warner University next Tuesday in Lake Wales with a 3 p.m. projected start time.
