Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – Junior outfielder
Mike Vavasis hit his fourth home run of the season as the Eckerd College baseball program challenged seventh-ranked University of Tampa to complete a Sunshine State Conference weekend series on Saturday.
After opening the series last night with a 6-0 win, the Spartans (33-9, 14-4 SSC) claimed game one by a score of 27-5 before the Tritons (14-27, 2-19 SSC) climbed back to make game two very respectable with a 5-0 defeat to close the afternoon.
For a roster laden with newcomers and filled with rising freshmen, their first season at the collegiate level against elite competition at the NCAA Div. II/NAIA levels continued to impact the program, which has plenty of promise for the future.
On the season, the numbers are even more telling as the Tritons continued to supplement the departure of a large senior class that graduated following the 2012 campaign and set the tone for a transition year this spring.
To date with one conference series remaining on the schedule, the EC freshmen position players have played in a total of 134 games with 107 starts, including a makeup of over 28 percent of the team's total number of at-bats.
Even more revealing is the fact that Triton freshmen pitchers have made up over 40 percent of the team's total appearances on the mound (68 of 169).
The Tritons' freshman hurlers have also accounted for nearly 100 innings on the mound. That also comes to equal over 29 percent of the total innings pitched by the Tritons' staff this season.
The Eckerd offense manufactured five runs on nine hits and trailed by a manageable 10-5 spot on the scoreboard through six completed innings in game one. But a middle-inning offensive eruption in the seventh inning by Tampa helped contribute to the final decision.
Freshman
Adam Moreau went 2-for-2 at the plate while Vavasis scored twice and drew a walk in addition to his solo blast to lead off the fourth inning.
Another freshman,
Matt MacMahon, helped lead the cavalry for a three-run sixth frame against UT pitching. After doubling earlier in the game, MacMahon's RBI fielder's choice followed a run-scoring single off the bat of junior
Lincoln Dunham.
Dunham capped the scoring as the Tritons executed a double steal with two outs in the frame. Senior
Lee Spinelle also enjoyed a multi-hit game in the opener, going 2-for-4 with his 10th double this spring.
Hits came at a premium in game two as both teams combined for nine total base knocks in the seven-inning affair. Sophomore
Kyle Harding started with a pair of scoreless innings and finished with a 4 1/3 inning outing.
Freshman
Jared Habershaw recorded two outs and senior
Jordan Huchro fanned one in a perfect sixth inning to highlight strong relief efforts.
Freshman
Jake O'Rourke, sophomore
James Petika and Spinelle, recorded hits against left-handed Tampa starter Mike Adams.
Eckerd is back on the road against for a midweek matchup against Warner University on Tuesday afternoon in Lake Wales. First pitch between the Tritons and the Royals is scheduled to be tossed at 3 p.m.
