Box Score WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a classic pitchers' duel, the Eckerd College baseball team took down Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday, 2-0, in game one of a three game series.
Jimmy Gutowski toed the rubber and did not disappoint. The senior kept PBA off the board for five innings before his team took a one run lead in the sixth.
Rowdy Andrews earned a walk and later moved to second on a single by
Carter Cashman.
Grant Banko drove in the EC shortstop with a single through the left side for an RBI.
Gutowski continued to deal from the mound with his defense playing great behind him. The team went errorless while fielding groundball after groundball. The outfield was also on top of its game turning what looked like doubles into outs.
In the top of the eighth, the Tritons grabbed a very important insurance run.
Lucas Luopa led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a fielder's choice. After a wild pitch, the EC second baseman was just 90 feet away from home. Luopa walked in on a balk by the pitcher putting his team up, 2-0.
With one out away in the bottom of the ninth,
Kyle Harding came out of the bullpen to replace Gutowski. The submariner got back to back ground ball outs to end the game sending the Tritons home with a 2-0 shutout victory.
James Petika led the way for the EC offense collecting three hits. Luopa and Banko both added two hits with one run scored each. Gutowski improved to 3-1 going 8.1 innings striking out four and not allowing a walk. Harding picked up save number two on the year.
Eckerd (11-4, 3-1) will be right back in action on Saturday for games two and three of the series. The first game of the double header is slated to begin at noon.
