Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior
Jordan Huchro hurled a complete game six-hitter in a pitcher's duel as the Eckerd College baseball program earned its first Sunshine State Conference win against Nova Southeastern University on Friday night, 2-1.
The Tritons (12-10, 1-6 SSC) ended a frustrating streak in conference play against the Sharks (14-8, 0-1 SSC) and backed up a pair of early runs on the scoreboard with strong defense as Huchro went the distance on the mound.
Beginning the game by painting the corners with finesse to induce weak contact, Huchro started attacking hitters and had the Sharks off balance all evening. He retired the side in order for the final three outs to put the finishing touches on his dominant nine innings of work.
Huchro bested his counterpart from Nova Southeastern, Vinnie Cataldi, who came into tonight with a dazzling 2.18 ERA in four starts this season. Cataldi ended up striking out 11 and scattered seven hits in his team's effort.
The Tritons reached Cataldi for both runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an opportune hit-and-run and a heady play on the base paths.
Nova Southeastern scored in the top of the second inning on a double down the left-field foul line by Anthony Angulo, but the Tritons had an answer in their next series of at-bats.
Senior
Lee Spinelle began the EC half of the second with a sharp single up the middle to give the Tritons a leadoff runner. With Spinelle in motion towards second, junior
Lincoln Dunham found a gap to center field that plated his teammate all the way from first.
Dunham finished the game 2-for-3 with junior
Mike Vavasis, who also doubled in his first plate appearance.
With the game tied at one run apiece, sophomore backstop
James Petika added another base hit to put runners on the corners.
After a swinging punchout, Dunham raced towards home, alertly darting when Ryan Woodrey collected the dropped third strike and threw down to first. The odd sequence turned out to be the difference-maker as each team had their chances later in the game.
Coming in having logged at least six innings in his last three starts, Huchro matched a season-high strikeout total of seven (March 2 vs. Florida Christian College) against the Sharks.
In the fifth inning, Huchro worked around a one-out walk and single as his infield turned a 6-4-3 double play to get out of trouble. To close the inning prior, he escaped a bases-loaded jam with a pop out to the deep part of the infield grass.
As the innings wore on, Huchro grew stronger into his start and he sat down six consecutive hitters to end the night.
The Tritons and Sharks will meet again for a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex to wrap up the weekend series. The first pitch of game one is projected to be thrown at 1 p.m.
