FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After opening up Sunshine State Conference play with a 3-2 win over 25th-ranked Nova Southeastern University on Friday night, the Eckerd College baseball team closed out the three-game series with a doubleheader split on Saturday, falling and winning by 3-1 scores.
The series win was the first for the Tritons (10-5, 2-1 SSC) over the Sharks (15-4, 3-2 SSC) since Nova Southeastern joined the SSC, and the first for Eckerd since 2000 when NSU was NAIA affiliated.
Game 1- Nova Southeastern 3, Eckerd 1
The Sharks took an early lead in game one, scoring their first run in the bottom of the first inning.
Nova Southeastern added the winning run in the bottom of the third inning that was started by a lead-off walk. A single from junior Mario Urdaneta through the right side of the infield scored a run to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead.
The Sharks added their final insurance run in the fifth inning aided by a hit-by-pitch and another Tritons' error.
The Tritons avoided the shutout and added one run in the eighth inning started by a lead-off single from sophomore
Rowdy Andrews. Senior
Lincoln Dunham walked to give Eckerd runners on first and second with no outs, which triggered a pitching change for the Sharks.
Soon after, senior
Chris Hanson hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to score Andrews.
Loret de Mola earned the win and tossed seven innings and allowed one run on six hits and three walks and struck out seven. Ronald Patella collected the save and threw the final two innings.
Game 2 - Eckerd 3, Nova Southeastern 1
The Tritons fell to an early one-run deficit as Nova Southeastern took advantage of two Tritons' errors in the bottom of the second inning, but a two-run third inning put Eckerd ahead for the remainder of the game.
Andrews started off the third inning with a single to left field and advanced all the way to third base following an NSU throwing error during an at-bat by Dunham. Hanson singled to center to score both Andrews and Dunham and give Eckerd a 2-1 lead.
The Tritons added an insurance run later in the sixth inning. Andrews got the inning started with a two-out triple to left center, and Dunham scored the run with a single.
Junior transfer
Jimmy Gutowski tossed his first complete game of the season and is a perfect 5-0 in his five appearances. He allowed one run (unearned) on six hits and two walks and struck out a season-high seven batters.
Andrews led the offense on the day, going 4-for-7 with three runs scored. Hanson added a 2-for-7 performance with three RBI.
Eckerd will return home to face Ohio Valley University at the Turley Athletic Complex on Monday night at 6 p.m.
Live stats and video will be available on
www.EckerdTritons.com.
