Bats Come Alive as Tritons Split with Warner

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After being held scoreless in Wednesday's opening game against Warner (Fla.) University, Eckerd's bats came alive as the Triton softball team split a double-header with the Royals thanks to a 7-3 win in the nightcap after losing the opener, 2-0.

Eckerd (26-21-1) recorded 12 hits in game two, including a pair of two-run home runs by Carrie Shere (9) and Kaycie Duncan (6).  Those two blasts, coupled with a two-run first-inning double by Stephanie Wolfrom, gave the Tritons all the runs they needed to earn the split.

Chelsea Armstrong added an RBI double in the fifth inning, giving Eckerd a 5-0 lead.

Warner finally got to EC starter Janna Gaburo (9-5) in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on a pair of hits to break up her shutout bid.  Before that inning, Gaburo had pitched her way out of several jams including a bases-loaded, no-outs situation in the second with three straight grounders, the first two of which turned into force-outs at the plate.

Eckerd also displayed outstanding defense on a few other occasions during the game.  Armstrong and Kiley King both made spectacular diving plays in the infield to rob Warner of base hits late in the game, and Dana Paul fired a perfectly-timed throw behind a Royal runner at second base for a pick-off.

Duncan's home run came in the bottom of the sixth as an answer to the Royals' two runs in the fifth.  The extra cushion provided more breathing room when Gaburo again ran into trouble in the seventh after giving up a pair of one-out hits.  She gave way to Grace Willeck, who recorded the final two outs of the game.

In addition to earning the win, Gaburo went 3-for-4 in the nightcap while Duncan, Shere and Armstrong all had two hits each.

The Tritons had issues with getting their bats going in the opening game, being limited to only two hits by Warner's Chelsie Valentine.  Nikole Van Gennep (14-16) worked around 10 hits to hold the Royals to only two runs.

Eckerd's best chance in the opener came in the sixth inning after Kaleigh Floyd led off with a triple and Rachael Luckett was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with no outs.  However, Valentine struck out Duncan and got Shere and Van Gennep to pop up to escape the inning.

The Tritons wrap up their home schedule this weekend hosting Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on Friday and Saturday.  Friday's opening game is scheduled for 7:00 PM with Saturday's double-header at 1:00 PM also serving as senior day.