Box Score
SAINT LEO, Fla. – Corner infielders
Chris Hanson and
Lee Spinelle each belted two-run home runs, but the Eckerd College baseball program couldn't match run production against Saint Leo University in a non-conference contest on Tuesday evening, 16-4.
Spinelle slugged a two-run blast in the third inning and Hanson, the current Sunshine State Player of the Week presented by VALIC, rocketed his two-run shot in the top half of the fifth for the Tritons (3-2, 0-0 SSC).
For Spinelle, it was his first home run of the spring. Hanson homered in back-to-back contests after going yard against Webber International University last week with a solo shot.
The Tritons recorded 12 hits, not far off the pace of Saint Leo's 15, but the Lions (6-2, 0-0 SSC) separated themselves with a 10-run outburst in the third frame to win their fifth straight game.
With EC leading 2-1 going into the third riding the start of senior
Jordan Huchro, the Lions singled, doubled and walked, to load the bases.
Saint Leo tied the game with the next batter on an RBI groundout to the mound and a sacrifice fly to center represented the go-ahead run.
Huchro's second start of the year came to a close after giving up a bunt single with two outs in the third.
With sophomore
Kyle Harding fresh off five-strikeout, 4 1/3-inning gem in relief against Webber International, his first batter faced resulted in a bases-loaded walk. With the bases-still full, the Lions capitalized further with a two-out, three-run triple from Frank Rowdow.
Another three-run hit with two outs, this time a double by Lions' first baseman Michael Revell, kept the inning alive.
Saint Leo pounded out seven runs on 10 hits in the third inning to take an insurmountable 11-2 edge.
Hanson got two of those runs back in the fifth, driving a two-run bomb off SLU Michael Dunnigan, to score junior
Tyler Abadal, who doubled earlier in the inning.
The junior Hanson went 2-for-3 at the plate to boost his average to a torrid .600, going 9-for-15 from the plate to start the year. Five of his nine base hits have been in extra-base fashion.
EC freshman shortstop
Rowdy Andrews extended his hit streak to five games to begin the season and his collegiate career with a single in the first inning.
Freshman pitcher
Jared Habershaw extended his scoreless innings streak to 4 1/3 in three appearances this year. The righty struck out two and got the final out of the tough third inning.
The Tritons went by committee to close out the game with Habershaw, including appearances from freshmen
Gus Cinquino and
Nick Hill. Freshmen
Carter Cashman and
Matt MacMahon delivered their first collegiate hits as reserves and junior
Audry Santana delivered a single off the bench.
The Tritons will face Saint Leo three more times this spring, but turn their focus towards a three-game homestand this weekend against Palm Beach Atlantic University. EC and Sailfish will play Friday's night contest at 7 p.m.
