EC vs. Barry (Game 1)
EC vs. Barry (Game 2)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –
Alex Sasso and
Emily Wiemken were honored in ceremonies as part of a memorable Senior Day as the Eckerd College softball program concluded the regular season against No. 13 Barry University on Saturday.
The Buccaneers (40-9, 19-5 SSC) completed the three-game Sunshine State Conference series sweep against the Tritons (12-43, 4-20 SSC) with two twinbill victories, 11-1 and 8-0 (5 innings).
Barry solidified its status in a tie for second towards the top of the SSC standings, locked in with Rollins College.
The Tritons finished eighth in conference, exceeding expectations from the coaches' preseason poll released at the beginning of the season.
The support was overwhelming from the team and the Turley Athletic Complex was ornately decorated with streamers in the bleachers, neon signs emblazoned around the dugout and sidewalk chalk inscriptions near the EC clubhouse.
Sasso and Wiemken were recognized in between games with sports information intern Sean Sullivan and athletic training intern Erica Buehning. Additionally, assistant coaches Pat Affrunti, Tim Whelan and
Dick Rusha, with volunteer assistant
Kirsten Cox, were presented with tokens of appreciation courtesy of the program.
Sasso got the nod to start game one in the pitcher's circle and tossed 5 1/3 innings before giving way to Brittany Mitchell and
Nazley Wilson.
In game two, a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning from the freshman Mitchell was a great start, but BU starter Brianna Smith was perfect the rest of the way.
Smith retired 14 straight as her offense picked up the slack with a six-run fourth inning to blow the doors open. Barry catcher Kayla Monroy delivered a key blow with a bases-clearing double to score three of her teammates.
The Buccaneers matched the six-run outburst in the late stages in the opener, pouring it on in the top half of the seventh frame.
Eckerd and Barry battled to a scoreless tie through three full innings and when the Buccaneers scored the first run of the game, the Tritons answered in their turn in the fourth inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from
Sarah Agnew that plated Sabrina Lolo.
Barry added the go-ahead and eventual winning runs in the fifth, opening up a 3-1 advantage. EC was able to get four against Alexis Yohe, who struck out five en route to her 15th win on the mound.
