Box Score
JUPITER, Fla. – Junior starter
Richard Cruz-Sanchez hurled seven strong innings mired in a pitcher's duel as the Eckerd College baseball program was barely edged by Palm Beach Atlantic University on Friday night at the Roger Dean Complex, 2-1.
Cruz-Sanchez scattered five hits and allowed both runs while striking out seven for the Tritons (15-29 overall). His counterpart on the mound, PBA's Nic Kovacs, allowed the one run on seven hits as he went the distance with nine innings logged.
A 1-1 tie was broken in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by A.J. Steimel for the Sailfish (25-21 overall).
PBA's John Buchko also homered with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Eckerd offense was able to outhit Palm Beach Atlantic, 7-6, as freshman
Adam Moreau went 3-for-4 at the plate and senior
Lee Spinelle produced another multi-hit effort. Freshman
Jake O'Rourke also doubled, his fifth this season.
Following the home run by Buchko, Cruz-Sanchez locked in and struck out his next three hitters faced in order, including Steimel to end the first inning. He would retire seven straight and erased a leadoff single in the fourth by inducing a double play turned by his defense.
Cruz-Sanchez also worked around a one-out single in the fifth and stranded a Sailfish runner at third base with another strikeout.
For the righty, the seven innings and seven punchouts both represented season highs. He worked a scoreless seventh inning before freshman
Taylor Owens relieved and tossed a scoreless bottom part of the eighth frame.
In succession, Moreau singled and O'Rourke had his extra-base hit to set the table for junior
Tyler Abadal and an infield RBI opportunity off Kovacs in the fourth inning.
Eckerd had tagged Kovacs with a loss in St. Petersburg earlier this season on Feb. 15, scoring a pair of runs against his line in a 2-0 win. The Tritons would go on to take the series, winning two of three at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Tritons' bid to push across the tying run fell just short and a total of six runners were left on base.
Eckerd and Palm Beach Atlantic will meet again for a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon to conclude the weekend series. The first pitch of game one is slated to begin at 12 p.m.
