Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -
Kristen Schurr cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double in the first inning to key a doubleheader split for the Eckerd College softball program in its home debut against Southeastern University on Tuesday, 7-3 and 1-3.
The senior third baseman started an impressive offensive showing as the Tritons (3-1, 0-0 SSC) emerged in the opener before coming up just short in the late stages of game two.
Southeastern scored the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning of the finale to break a 1-1 tie.
It was a historic day for the Fire (1-1, 0-0 TSC) as the team played its first-ever game and collected its first win in the program's existence.
The Eckerd offense was locked in early against SU starter Sam Rich, a transfer from Chipola College, who was tagged for seven hits and six runs in four innings of work.
Schurr laced a line drive into the left-center gap to score sophomore
Brittany Mitchell, freshman
Kaycie Duncan and freshman
Kara Oberer, for the early lead that provided run support in another quality start for junior starting pitcher
Whitney Bernier.
Baserunners moved up a station as Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice, but was preceded by looping singles by junior
Chelsea Jeffares and Duncan, to help set the table for Schurr.
Bernier, the current Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week, extended her scoreless innings streak to 14 consecutive frames before the Fire broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
She improved to 3-0 following the game-one winning decision and went the distance with seven more innings logged. Two earned runs went against her line on nine hits.
Schurr delivered again as part of a three-run third inning against the Fire before an infield single by freshman
Stephanie Wolfrom drove one run in and sent another to the plate on the same sequence after an infield throwing error.
Duncan went 2-for-3 in the clean-up role with a pair of runs scored and the reigning SSC Player of the Week Oberer drew a pair of walks with a run of her own.
With Eckerd having its sights set on another sweep, the Tritons got on the board in the third inning after Mitchell drove an RBI single to right to score Oberer from second.
Senior
Logan Rohrbach kept her club in contention with five strong innings as the game-two starter, allowing just one run on three hits in the no-decision.
The Tritons held their lead until the top of the fifth when Southeastern's Leslie Nazario crushed a solo home run to straightaway center that crashed into the baseball bleachers over the 200-foot sign to tie at 1-1.
Both teams battled through a scoreless sixth before an RBI double and run-scoring grounder allowed Fire reliever Emily Bryant to close the door for SU's first victory.
The Tritons will spend the next few days preparing for the Eckerd College Spring Invitational in Clearwater at the Eddie C. Moore Complex Friday through Sunday. EC will face Georgia College & State University and Colorado Christian University on the first day of competition at 3 and 5:30 p.m.
