Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Eckerd College softball team finished up their final day of the Spring Invitational taking game one from Lynn University, 5-1, before dropping game two to Shorter University, 1-0.
The starting pitchers for both squads dominated the first three innings of play. Neither offense managed a hit until the fourth while the hurlers combined for four strikeouts.
Kara Oberer led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a four pitch walk.
Sydney Dinelli was next to the plate and drove a double into left field moving Oberer to third.
Kaycie Duncan followed Dinelli with a sacrifice fly to bring in Oberer for the first run of the game.
Brittany Martinez replaced Dinelli on the base path and scored on an error by Lynn to put her team up 2-0.
Hay helped herself out with two RBI's in the fifth. The pitcher drove in
Chelsea Armstrong and
Kirby Parnell with a single through the left side. The Tritons managed to get one more insurance run in the sixth inning scoring
Dana Paul off the bat of
Brittany Mitchell to take a 5-0 lead.
The Fighting Knights attempted a comeback in the seventh scoring their first run of the game but fell short losing, 5-1. Hay went all seven innings giving up only one hit in the contest on her way to win number three on the season.
Game two turned out to be a classic pitcher's duel with Hay toeing the rubber for the second consecutive contest.
Runs were at a premium as the two starters took control of the game early. The Eckerd defense was solid behind their pitcher making play after play to keep it a 0-0 ball game. Armstrong handled the hot corner like a seasoned veteran making quick work of every ball hit to her. Martinez made two diving plays at second to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard.
Shorter's offense did all their damage in the bottom of the sixth inning. After getting a runner in scoring position, the Hawk's Tori Etheridge doubled to center to score what would eventually be the game winning run. The Tritons led off the seventh with a single from Hay, but could not bring her around to score falling, 1-0.
Hay was tagged with the loss moving her record to 3-2 on the year. The right hander gave up one earned run while striking out four.
Eckerd (5-2) finished the Spring Invitational going 3-2 on the weekend.
Carrie Shere hit .429 for the tournament while Dinelli drove in five RBI's and slugged .533.
The Tritons will host Colorado Christian University for a double header on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. with game two set to follow.
