ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Following winds in excess of 30 mph sweeping across the Turley Athletic Complex combined with late-developing sheets of precipitation, Barry University outlasted the Eckerd College softball program in a three hour, 36-minute affair on Thursday night, 6-5 (10 innings).
Barry All-American Kelly Martinez recorded the most critical of her three RBI on the night with what turned out to be the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th inning.
The Tritons (23-21, 8-11 SSC) went to extras with an opponent for the fifth time in their last eight games following a pair of back-to-back extra-inning clashes last weekend against Palm Beach Atlantic University.
The Buccaneers (24-17, 8-10 SSC) were tied with Florida Southern College for sixth in the Sunshine State Conference standings and gained a half game on both Eckerd and Saint Leo University to form a current four-way logjam for fourth in the league.
Game two of tonight's doubleheader was rained out and both teams will attempt to play a doubleheader (weather permitting) tomorrow morning starting at 10 a.m. for Senior Day.
Freshman
Caitlin Belber drew a bases-loaded pinch-hit game-tying walk on four straight pitches to tie the game at 5-5 in the sixth inning.
Earlier, Eckerd answered a three-run deficit by evening the score at 4-4 following a passed ball, RBI single by freshman
Alex Barone and another RBI off the bat of junior
Brittany Mitchell in foul territory.
Errors became an issue as the night progressed as the Eckerd defense was charged with four miscues that resulted in five unearned runs against the line of
Erin Dixson, who was bidding for her 14th win of the spring.
An errant throw on a comebacker to the pitcher's circle gave Barry a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning before Belber's plate discipline coming off the bench against Camille Czarnecki paid off.
Dixson went five full innings before junior
Amber Hay recorded six strikeouts in four innings of relief work.
Sophomore
Kaycie Duncan doubled and scored twice while Dixson recorded a pair of base hits, drove in a run and drew a walk.
Barry's Martinez also ripped a two-run double while she and Cheyanne Head combined to go 5-for-8 at the plate representing the No. 9/8 hitters in the batting order.
Czarnecki threw 127 pitches in relief to seal her ninth win of the season.
The Turley Athletic Complex will be re-evaluated early tomorrow morning in regards to playing conditions for tomorrow's scheduled doubleheader. Check EckerdTritons.com for any schedule updates with inclement weather forecasted on Good Friday.
