ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Two more marquee milestones crumbled on a historic Saturday as the Eckerd College softball program belted a total of five home runs and brought out the brooms to sweep Saint Leo University, 6-3 and 5-2.
Eckerd swept its first Sunshine State Conference series (three-game format) in school history and the 2014 squad/coaching staff now proudly owns the official single-season wins record (22) that eclipsed 21 victories in 2009.
The Tritons had toppled Lynn University and Rollins College four times in 1998 and 1992, respectively, but the three-game SSC series format had not yet been adopted until 2004.
With Eckerd head coach
Josh Beauregard already reaching the 100-win career milestone (Feb. 28) and becoming the program's all-time winningest coach (March 19) earlier this spring, the latest accomplishment from his club continues an unprecedented season.
Sophomore
Kara Oberer homered twice while
Sydney Dinelli,
Erin Dixson and
Chelsea Jeffares, supplied additional power for the Tritons (22-19, 8-10 SSC), who won the series opener against the Lions (23-18, 5-10 SSC) with an eighth-inning walk-off blast by Dixson on Friday night.
After beginning the weekend eighth in the SSC standings, the Tritons climbed all the way to an updated fifth following a Florida Tech loss this afternoon.
Game 1 – Eckerd 6, Saint Leo 3 Dinelli clobbered a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning to help the Tritons quickly erase a 1-0 deficit.
Oberer went deep for a solo shot to start a three-run third frame and Dixson homered for the third time this week, sending a first-pitch fastball out of the park down the left-field line to clear the bases with Dinelli scoring.
Oberer and Dixson are tied for the team lead in home runs with six each along with RBI (20).
Dixson earned her 12th win of the season, going the distance with three runs scattered off seven hits. She retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings to slow down Saint Leo as her offense secured the lead.
Game 2 – Eckerd 5, Saint Leo 2 Jeffares crushed a solo home run to deep center field, her second of the season, pulling the game even at 1-1 after the Lions again took an early one-run lead.
Eckerd scored three runs in the third after a sacrifice bunt throwing error plated runners all the way from first and second. Oberer capped the frame with an RBI double and launched another solo shot to lead off the fifth inning.
Junior pitcher
Amber Hay was dominant in the circle for the second straight day against Saint Leo, cruising through seven strong innings with just one earned run on the final line.
Up Next: The Tritons return to the Turley Athletic Complex on Tuesday to host Southeastern University for a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
