Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd Tritons got a strong debut performance from freshman pitcher
Alex Moore and used a pair of big innings to pick up a 10-3 win over Colorado Christian on Friday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Tritons (2-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead, then made the lead comfortable with a five-run eighth.
Entering the home half of the fourth tied 2-2, Eckerd loaded the bases with one out after singles by
Tom Buonopane and
Daniel Autiello sandwiched around a walk drawn by
Matt MacMahon.
Rowdy Andrews' sacrifice fly gave EC the lead, and
Garrett Hiott followed with a two-out, two-run single to put the Tritons ahead by three runs.
Moore, meanwhile, was solid in five innings of work. The freshman allowed two runs on a pair of solo home runs, but otherwise shut down the Cougars (2-4). He allowed three hits and walked two while striking out four in earning his first collegiate win.
CCU got a run back in the seventh off of reliever
Jack Silberman, but a well-executed 9-4-2 relay cut down Brandon Hesselburg at the plate.
The Tritons then blew the game open in the eighth after stringing together five straight hits to start the inning including back-to-back-to-back doubles by MacMahon, Autiello and Andrews.
Carter Cashman finished off the five-run inning with a two-out single that put Eckerd ahead, 10-3.
After
Kevin Kane tossed a perfect eighth,
Taylor Owens worked out of a jam in the ninth. The Cougars managed to load the bases with one out, but Owens coaxed a pair of fly outs to right field to end the game.
CCU got a solo home run from Jerry Gallegos in the first inning to take an early lead, but Eckerd scored twice in the second inning on RBI hits by Buonopane and McMahon. The Cougars tied the game in the fourth on their second solo shot, this one from Weston Wiederhold, before EC took command for good in the bottom of the frame.
MacMahon had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Buonopane made the most of his first career start, going 3-for-4 and scoring three runs. Autiello also went 3-for-4 while Cashman went 2-for-4 as the Tritons pounded out 14 hits.
The weekend series concludes tomorrow with a single nine-inning game with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.
