Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd Tritons baseball team opened play at the Turley Athletic Complex for the first time in 2016 as they played host to the Flagler Saints but the night was spoiled by a high-powered Saints offense as the Tritons fell, 7-2.
Things looked good from the start for senior pitcher
Jack Silberman (0-1) as he and the defense forced a one-two-three first inning. However, Lorenzo Butler reached on an error by
Rowdy Andrews in the top of the second and then scored on a one-out double by Frankie Sagarese. Jack Jean followed with an RBI double to put the Tritons (1-1) down 2-0 early.
In the bottom half of the second,
Nick Conti picked up Eckerd's first hit of the game with a single through the left side of the infield. Conti was unable to advance due to the crisp pitching performance by Mike O'Reilly (1-0) for Flagler.
The Saints (1-0) picked up another pair of runs in the top of the third as Colin McMillen reached on a two-out bunt. Butler followed with a double to center field, scoring McMillen. A single through the left side by Igor Baez sent Butler through to make it 4-0.
After surrendering a leadoff single in the fourth inning,
Kevin Kane was called to the mound to replace Silberman for Eckerd. Kane made quick work of the Saints by forcing a 4-6-3 double play and recording a strikeout.
Kane was unable to follow the strong fourth inning in the fifth as he was replaced by
Gardner Nutter. The situation was tight for Nutter as the bases were loaded with one out. Baez hit a two-RBI single through the right side. Following the single, the middle of the infield showed rhythm once again with its second 4-6-3 double play of the game.
Another pitching change for the Tritons put
Nick Hill on the mound for some early-season experience and he held Flagler scoreless. In the bottom half of the inning, Eckerd received a boost from Andrews as he ripped a leadoff homerun over the left field fence for the Tritons' first run of the contest.
Hill ran into trouble in the seventh, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter. Head coach
Juan Ranero called for
Alex Estremera to take over control, putting his second relief pitcher in with the bases loaded. A wild pitch advanced all three runners and Sagarese reach on a walk. However, a heads-up defensive play by Andrews got the lead runner out at home, holding the contest at 7-1 until Eckerd scored in the bottom of the ninth when
Carter Cashman crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
O'Reilly was credited the win with seven innings of work. He surrendered five hits to Eckerd and one walk while giving up just one run. He also struck out seven batters. Silberman picked up the loss for the Tritons, giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits and no walks. Luopa led Eckerd at the plate with a trio of singles.
The two teams square off again Saturday morning with a double header at the Turley Athletic Complex. The first game is set to begin at noon with the second following.
