Box Score
LAKELAND, Fla. – A series of untimely defensive miscues proved to be the decisive factor as the Eckerd College baseball program's five-game win streak was ended at Florida Southern College on Friday evening, 6-1, at Henley Field.
The Tritons (10-8, 0-4 SSC) assembled an impressive stretch against a handful of non-conference opponents before transitioning back into Sunshine State Conference play to begin a three-game road series against the Mocs (6-11, 1-0 SSC), who made their league debut.
All six runs on the scoreboard turned out to be unearned against the lines of EC senior starter
Jordan Huchro and freshman southpaw
Taylor Owens as FSC capitalized on six Eckerd errors.
Huchro was coming off a six-inning, seven-strikeout gem against Florida Christian College in his last start on the mound. Factoring in the unearned runs, the righty has an active streak of 12 scoreless innings to his credit.
After four scoreless innings to begin the game, Florida Southern scored in the next four consecutive innings, including a two-run fifth frame to break the 0-0 tie that was prolonged by a pair of infield errors.
Another two-out fielding error led to two runs scoring in the sixth before Huchro retired FSC's reigning NCBWA South Region Hitter of the Week Connor Szczerba on a flyout to end his night.
Owens came in for the bottom of the seventh and another unearned run came across to score. Sophomore
Kyle Harding came in to record the final two outs.
The Tritons were able to get one run back in the seventh as junior
Mike Vavasis crossed home plate on a wild pitch. He began the inning with a single and went 2-for-4 at the plate.
After driving his second home run of the season against Saint Anselm (N.H.) College earlier this week to go with three RBI, junior outfielder
Shane Bishop drew a pair of walks and had one of the team's six hits against the Mocs.
FSC starter Clay Chapman struck out nine in seven strong innings which included five hits and one earned run.
The Tritons and Mocs will be back in action for a Saturday twinbill in Lakeland with the first pitch of game one scheduled to be thrown at 1 p.m.
