Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 11 Saint Leo Lions stepped onto the Eckerd campus with a 14-0 record and a 25-game winning streak dating back to last season, but they will be leaving with a blemish in the loss column thanks to the efforts of the Tritons.
The matchup was EC's first of the season against a Sunshine State Conference opponent, and the Tritons (12-5-1, 1-0 SSC) opened league play with a 2-1 victory.
The Lions (14-1, 3-1 SSC) threatened to score during the top of the fourth inning as Rachael Heath opened the inning with a line drive single through the middle before stealing second. She then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Samios-Uy. However, EC pitcher
Nikole Van Gennep (7-3) struck out the next batter, then got support from her defense as
Chelsea Armstrong grabbed a line-drive off the bat of Michelle George to end the inning.
The contest would remain scoreless until SLU struck first in the top half of the sixth inning. Samios-Uy's sacrifice fly to left field scored Sommer Pollard, who reached on an error to start the inning. With a runner still on third, Van Gennep caught Samantha Ohmie looking at the plate with a strikeout to escape.
Eckerd returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning, and it all happened with two outs.
Kaycie Duncan got things rolling with a five-pitch walk and was joined on the bases by
Rachael Luckett, who was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, Van Gennep ripped a deep single to left field that tied the game.
Kaleigh Floyd then stepped in to pinch hit for Armstrong, and the sophomore recorded her first RBI of the season in a big way with an infield single that put Eckerd ahead.
Van Gennep retired the side in the seventh to close out the win, finishing the game with a strikeout to emphasize the victory.
Van Gennep and Stephanie Adkins (6-1) dominated the entire game as both pitchers surrendered just three hits while striking out six batters. The difference in the pitching duel came down to free baserunners as Adkins walked three Tritons and hit one. Saint Leo entered the night have allowed only six runs all season.
The Tritons and Lions will meet again at the Turley Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.
