Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Sitting back in a 3-1 hitter's count, Eckerd College first baseman
Chris Hanson knew what was coming from the left side of the batter's box.
The junior unloaded on an inside fastball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 4-4 ballgame, delivering a dramatic win in the rubber match walk-off style.
Hanson's three-run shot disappeared into the sky and carried over the right-field wall, well beyond the 365-foot sign, capping an adventurous rally as the Tritons (5-3, 0-0 SSC) claimed two of the three games against Palm Beach Atlantic University.
The crowd erupted in elation as the ball left the bat and his teammates were already waiting at home plate for a mob celebration as freshmen
Adam Moreau and
Rowdy Andrews also scored.
“He (PBA's Jimmy Kelly) threw me a low fastball and I went down and followed through,” said a breathless Hanson afterwards. “There was a big crowd with my teammates waiting at the plate ready to celebrate. I was ready to take them all on.”
“With conference play coming up, this is a good start for us as a team,” he continued. “Everyone is chipping and doing their part. The chemistry is great and we're really coming together.”
In Saturday's doubleheader, the Sailfish (8-4 overall) rolled to a 12-0 decision in the nine-inning opener before the Tritons rallied to clinch the non-conference series. EC also blanked PBA on Friday night, 2-0.
With temperatures dipping into the low 60's and strong 25-30 mph winds circling around the Turley Athletic Complex, intermittent gusts of rain also came down for part of the afternoon.
In game two, the Tritons took a 3-0 lead in their first turn at the plate against T.J. Harbuck as junior
Lincoln Dunham flared a two-run single. Junior
Tyler Abadal found a gap in the left side of the infield for another RBI hit in the next at-bat against Harbuck.
With time running out thanks to a stellar start by EC's
Kevin Plant, the Sailfish erased the three-run deficit and took the lead in the top of the sixth, most notably on the go-ahead two RBI single by Spencer Castro.
The sophomore Plant handcuffed PBA to five scoreless frames, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out six in the no-decision effort.
Jordan Huchro earned the win in relief by tossing two scoreless innings.
Tensions mounted as the ante was raised in the bottom of the seventh and PBA manager Kent Bottenfield was ejected for arguing a call while the Sailfish bench received an official warning.
Andrews tied the game at 4-all with a sharp single to center that brought home a hustling
James Petika from second. Moreau reached on a walk to force a pitching change that affected the outcome.
After PBA reliever Matt Niedzwiecki departed, Kelly recorded one strikeout before yielding Hanson's game-winning blast before extra innings could be played.
Palm Beach Atlantic took advantage of EC control problems in the opener as the Tritons issued three consecutive bases-loaded walks in the third inning. The Tritons struggled to find the zone and walked 11 total hitters with six hit batsmen.
PBA pounded out 12 runs on 11 hits while Andres Lopez pitched six strong scoreless innings on the mound for his second win.
The Tritons are back at home on Monday night, hosting Ave Maria University for a 7 p.m. contest.
