Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –Junior
Kaitlyn Dougherty was a triple shy of the cycle and fired four scoreless innings in a relief role in game one as the Eckerd College softball program assembled a series split against Georgia Southwestern University on Sunday afternoon, winning 8-5 and falling 2-0.
Dougherty helped her own cause on the mound with a two-run homer, double and single, to go with three RBI for the Tritons (10-10, 0-0 SSC) in a back-and-forth contest. She struck out three and scattered five hits for her second win.
While Dougherty earned the winning decision in the opener, junior
Whitney Bernier battled late on the short end of a pitcher's duel in her bid for her seventh win of the season to close the afternoon.
Ashley Cavender spun a one-hit complete-game shutout as the Hurricanes (12-8 overall) from the Peach Belt Conference scored two runs in the top of the seventh in game two.
GSW was coming off a pair of losses at Rollins College and EC was carrying momentum from a doubleheader sweep against Northwood University, both on Saturday.
After the Hurricanes' Jordan Miller slugged a two-out solo home run in the top of the first, Dougherty countered and went yard with a two-out, two-run towering shot to score senior
Kristen Schurr that put the Tritons on top, 2-1.
Georgia Southwestern made up ground and came back in the fourth with four runs on four hits to grab the lead again, this time 5-4.
In another two-out situation, Dougherty delivered a sharp single through the left side of the infield to tie things up at 5-5 in the fifth frame while plating junior
Nazley Wilson.
Freshman
Kaycie Duncan delivered three RBI, a groundout down the first base line and a two-run double to the left-center gap that gave the Tritons a three-run cushion in the seventh.
In the conclusion, junior
Chelsea Jeffares spoiled the no-hit bid by Cavender and legged out an infield single in the sixth.
Bernier retired six straight to begin her start and kept the team in contention with six scoreless innings. She allowed two runs on five hits while picking up a pair of strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
The Hurricanes snapped the scoreless tie with two hits and a pair of errors in the seventh. Freshman center fielder
Kirby Parnell speared a line drive running full speed to her left to start an inning-ending double play.
Cavender retired the side in order to end the game and the EC hopes of rallying. She hit three batters, walked one and struck out three.
The Tritons will open their run through the Sunshine State Conference this weekend, hosting Florida Southern College on Friday night at 7 p.m. to start a three-game series.
