ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – After executing a series-opening win walk-off style in the opener on Friday, the Eckerd College softball program was on the short end of a pair of closely-contested games against Florida Tech at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday, 3-2 and 4-2.
The Tritons (12-9, 3-3 SSC) began the afternoon sitting at second in the Sunshine State Conference standings, but runs were tough to come by against the Panthers (18-8, 4-2 SSC) and their pitching combo of Taylor Smith and Rachel Pence.
Following the sweep, Florida Tech moved into a tied for third in the league while Eckerd moved down to sixth in the updated SSC standings.
The sequel from yesterday's mesmerizing pitching duel between Eckerd's
Erin Dixson and Pence set the stage for an entertaining game two, while junior
Amber Hay put her team-leading 2.00 ERA on the line in the opener against Smith, who toted a 1.93 ERA of her own.
Sophomore
Kaycie Duncan slugged her second home run of the spring, a two-run blast off Pence in the game two, and recorded a pair of hits in the opener.
Game 1 – Florida Tech 3, Eckerd 2
The Tritons generated runs in the bottom of the fourth and seventh innings against Smith, who scattered 10 hits to the tune of one earned run.
Hay used a total of 100 pitches for another dominant complete-game effort, but was touched up for a pair of unearned runs as the Tritons committed a total of three defensive miscues. She lowered her season ERA to 1.88 in her ninth start this spring.
Sophomore
Kara Oberer legged out a triple, her first of the season, and scored in the seventh inning.
Florida Tech pushed home what turned out to be the winning run in the sixth on a suicide squeeze bunt off the bat of Brigit Godfrey.
Game 2 – Florida Tech 4, Eckerd 2
The Panthers took advantage of a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning and scored all their runs off a 12-pitch walk, a Godfrey single and a two-run double.
The Tritons struck first following back-to-back 0-2 counts worked by Oberer and Duncan starting the Eckerd offense out against Pence.
Oberer's 0-2 pitch was singled up the middle and Duncan deposited a Pence offering over the deepest part of center field at 200 feet for the early two-run advantage.
After the home run, Pence wouldn't allow a runner to reach past second base the rest of the way, eventually totaling seven strikeouts in the winning decision.
Up Next: The Tritons are scheduled to host Warner University on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.
