Box Score vs. No. 10 Columbus State (Ga.) University
Box Score vs. Palm Beach Atlantic University
CLEARWATER, Fla. – After falling against the 10th-ranked program in the country, the Eckerd College softball program bounced back in strong form to defeat Palm Beach Atlantic University and highlight day two of the EC Spring Invitational on Saturday.
Just one night removed from beating Georgia College in walk-off style and emerging from an 11-inning triumph against Colorado Christian University last night, EC earned a split against a pair of formidable opponents.
Eckerd fell victim to a nine-strikeout gem by Kristen Carr and a talented Columbus State (Ga.) University squad, dropping the morning opener by a 12-1 score in five innings.
But the Tritons (6-2, 0-0 SSC) snapped a 10-game skid in the series history against the PBA Sailfish (2-3 overall) right after, riding another complete-game effort by junior starter
Whitney Bernier.
“We knew we had two really tough games going into today, and as a staff, stressed we wanted to see them compete,” said EC Head Coach
Josh Beauregard. “We executed against PBA and came a few hits away from pushing the game open. We scored early and that gave us a little breathing room going down the stretch.”
Bernier improved to 4-1 on the mound this spring against Palm Beach Atlantic, going the distance to spin her fourth complete game. She retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the win.
Freshman outfielder
Kaycie Duncan delivered the big blow in the top of the first inning, lining a two-run single to left off PBA starter Kaytie Lundin. Her RBI hit scored freshman
Kara Oberer and sophomore
Sabrina Lolo.
Lundin was chased out of the game in the top of the third after yielding a leadoff double to junior
Chelsea Jeffares.
The Sailfish went with a committee of three pitchers, including Mary Pippin and Amber Johnson, to try and slow down the Tritons' offense.
The final score could have been much worse for the Sailfish considering Pippin struck out three straight hitters in a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the third inning.
Eckerd singled in five consecutive plate appearances in the top half of the fifth to help manufacture a pair of runs. Seniors
Kristen Schurr and
Sarah Agnew each had RBI hits in the inning.
PBA had defeated No. 9 University of Tampa by a 6-0 decision the night prior as part of the tournament. The Tritons toppled the Sailfish this afternoon for the first time since Feb. 6, 2010.
Carr, a 6-3 hurler for the 10th-ranked Cougars (5-2, 0-0 PBC), recorded the first six outs with swinging strikeouts. CSU loaded the bases in their first round of plate appearances on walks, pushing across three runs.
Carr helped her own cause in the third inning, belting a solo home run over the left field fence as part of a three-run frame.
Freshman
Kirby Parnell legged out a bunt single past the pitcher's circle to score
Brittany Mitchell and foil the shutout attempt in the fourth, but runs came at a premium. Columbus State put up another four spot in the top of the fifth as the Cougars assembled 11 hits in all.
The Tritons will look to close out the tournament strong early tomorrow morning against Lindenwood (Mo.) University and Lynn University. Games are scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Field 8 and 9 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Live stats and a free audio broadcast of both games will be available on EckerdTritons.com.
