Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd College softball program asserted itself early and often with a potent offensive effort, surging to a season-opening sweep against Ave Maria University on the road Saturday afternoon, 8-0 (5 innings) and 9-2.
Freshman shortstop
Kara Oberer slugged three home runs with seven RBI to highlight a monster day at the plate and junior starting pitcher
Whitney Bernier hurled a combined nine scoreless innings to record both winning decisions for the Tritons (2-0, 0-0 SSC).
The EC offense exploded for a pair of five-run innings against the Gyrenes (0-2, 0-0 TSC) in both contests, combining for 20 hits on the day.
Freshman
Kaycie Duncan enjoyed a 4-for-6 debut while junior
Chelsea Jeffares and sophomore
Brittany Mitchell recorded three hits apiece. Oberer also scored four times while going 5-for-7 in her first games of the year.
“Throughout the afternoon, we had great approaches at the plate and good pitching to back it up,” said EC Head Coach
Josh Beauregard. “This is a great way to start our season moving forward.”
After trading a pair of scoreless innings to begin the twinbill, the Tritons broke through in a big way with a five-run third frame. Jeffares and Oberer ripped consecutive run-scoring extra-base hits with a triple and double, respectively to open the scoring.
With runners on first and second, Mitchell plated another and senior third baseman
Kristen Schurr unloaded the bases with a ringing two-run double.
Eckerd chased out AMU starter Beth Vaccarezza after Jeffares delivered another RBI single in the top half of the fourth, but reliever Samantha Crews was greeted rudely by Oberer, who went yard for a two-run shot.
Bernier worked the complete-game three-hit shutout in the opener, allowing no walks and striking out one.
The power exhibition continued in game two for Oberer as she left the park in the first and second innings as the Tritons cruised out to a 4-0 lead.
The Tritons manufactured a five-run fifth as the team batted around in the order.
Freshman outfielder
Kirby Parnell was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the first run. With the bases still full, sophomore
Sabrina Lolo singled home another run. Jeffares brought two more of her teammates to score with a single.
After the Gyrenes didn't want to have any more to do with Oberer, the decision to walk her and defer to Duncan in the clean-up spot backfired. She finished off the attack with another RBI base knock.
Senior starter
Logan Rohrbach delivered three innings in her first appearance of the season and allowed a pair of runs on three hits.
Bernier silenced the Gyrenes again, this time in a relief role as she worked four no-hit innings to move to 2-0.
The Tritons will perform in front of their home crowd for the first time on Tuesday night, welcoming Southeastern University for a 5 p.m. doubleheader matchup on the diamond.
