LAKE WALES, Fla. – Starting pitchers
Erin Dixson and
Amber Hay orchestrated complete-game shutouts as the Eckerd College softball program turned in another doubleheader sweep, this time against Warner University on Wednesday, 3-0 and 7-0.
Dixson recorded a one-hit complete-game shutout in the opener and Hay registered a four-hit masterpiece in the game-two blanking.
Sophomore
Kara Oberer belted her first home run of the spring that represented No. 13 of her young career. She officially tied Amy McGathey (2004-2007) for second in program history in career homers.
As a team, the Tritons (6-5, 0-0 SSC) extended what has turned into a current six-game win streak, just two victories shy of matching the school record set by the squad in the spring of 1987.
EC's five-game win streak at the end of today's doubleheader opener at Daly Field was the longest assembled since the 2001 campaign.
EC head coach
Josh Beauregard continued to approach the career milestone of 100 victories in his tenure, now sitting at 96 heading into Saturday's homestand against Ave Maria University.
"Everything starts with pitching and when you get that, it allows you go through the game to focus on scoring runs," Beauregard said. "The plays we had today were routine plays that we made. Defensively, we have been playing as well as we could and our pitching allowed that to happen."
Game 1 – Eckerd 3, Warner 0
Dixson retired eight straight hitters to begin the afternoon before a runner reached base on an error, technically spoiling what could have been a perfect-game bid in the third inning.
She went to record five no-hit frames before a single from the Royals led off the bottom of the sixth inning put Warner in the hit column. Dixson fanned one hitter and induced 13 groundouts along with seven fly outs while facing just two batters over the minimum as she went the distance.
The Tritons' offense scratched out three runs on six hits and crossed the plate twice as a result of Warner defensive miscues.
Hay and junior
Carolyn Griffin each finished with a pair of hits.
Game 2 – Eckerd 7, Warner 0
A tightly-contested game was blown wide open as the Tritons enjoyed a five-run sixth inning to expand on their 2-0 lead.
Oberer delivered a two-out solo blast in the fifth before singling in two more teammates in the next inning. Eckerd took advantage of a pair of Warner errors and made the Royals pay following a two-run single by Dixson through the left side of the infield.
Hay sat down five hitters on strikes and scattered four hits through seven scoreless innings while ending the game on a double play.
Up Next: The Tritons will return to the Turley Athletic Complex for their second homestand of the spring on Saturday afternoon against Ave Maria University beginning with a 1 p.m. first pitch of the doubleheader.
