ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College softball program concluded the home portion of the regular season in style, sweeping Webber International University at the Turley Athletic Complex on Tuesday night, 7-3 and 6-2.
Only three games remain on the calendar for the Tritons (26-23, 9-11 SSC) who continued to knock down longstanding single-season records in the program's history.
The latest one to crumble was a pitching milestone as junior
Erin Dixson recorded her 14th win of the season with a complete-game four hitter in game two. She eclipsed the decade-long benchmark previously set by Kristina Lemon and her 13 wins in the spring of 2004.
Dixson's two-way prowess was also on display at the plate as she mashed her team-leading eighth home run of the season to help her own cause for the winning decision against the Warriors (14-26, 3-13 TSC).
Eckerd completed an undefeated stint against Webber International this spring, winning all four contests against the Warriors, including a doubleheader sweep at Babson Park in February.
The Tritons padded on their single-season record win numbers with their 25th and 26th victories and have a shot to tie or shatter the single-season conference win record upcoming at Florida Southern College.
Game 1 – Eckerd 7, Webber International 3The Tritons' offense erupted early and often, threatening to put the opener away prematurely with a 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning.
Eckerd emptied a bases-loaded scenario following a two-run single laced up the middle by
Kaycie Duncan. She would score along with
Kara Oberer on an errant throw as the Tritons put four runs on the board to cap the unusual sequence.
In the second inning, Oberer ripped a two-run double down the line and sophomore
Brittany Martinez alertly advanced home following an overrun ball on a sharp single by junior
Amber Hay.
Hay stifled the Warriors' lineup by allowing just two earned runs on six hits as she picked up her 11th win of the season. Hay,
Chelsea Jeffares,
Sydney Dinelli and Martinez, each had two hits apiece.
Game 2 – Eckerd 6, Webber International 2Dixson dazzled with three no-hit innings to begin her dominant start in the circle and she finished with seven strikeouts.
The no-hit bid lobbied by Dixson was broken to begin the top of the fourth inning, but
Amber Hay went 2-for-3 and triple down the right-field line to plate two runs in the third frame.
Dixson launched her solo shot on the first pitch she saw out of the hand from Naomi Spurgeon to start the fourth inning.
Even though Senior Day was celebrated earlier against Barry University, the Tritons' trio of Jeffares,
Nazley Wilson and
Whitney Bernier, placed their cleats at home plate before being doused by their teammates with ice water.
Up Next: The Tritons close out the season in Lakeland this weekend against Florida Southern.
