Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Following a narrow loss on Wednesday, the Triton baseball team looked to get back on the winning track as it played host to the Lynn Fighting Knights for the series-opening Sunshine State Conference matchup on Friday.
Despite carrying an early lead, Eckerd (14-19, 2-11 SSC) felt the wrath of Lynn's power as the Fighting Knights came away with an 11-3 victory.
Eckerd applied pressure early as
Matt MacMahon singled up the middle in the bottom of the second. Lynn (22-19, 10-9 SSC) centerfielder Alex Turner was unable to corral the ball which allowed
Tom Buonopane to score from first base after reaching on a single of his own. The Tritons struck again in the bottom of the third as
Garrett Hiott led off with a double to right center before fellow middle infielder
Nick Conti drove him in with a single through the middle.
However, the Fighting Knights - the conference leaders in home runs - answered with a three-run blast in the top of the fourth after scoring two runs earlier in the inning.
The Tritons scored again in the fifth after
Jack Silberman recorded a one-two-three inning in the top half, but it became all Lynn from that point forward as the Fighting Knights scored in each of the remaining innings including a pair of two-run homers in the seventh and eighth innings respectively.
Along with the double, Hiott led EC with a 4-for-5 night at the plate with three singles and scored two runs. Conti entered the game in the top of the second and also recorded multiple hits with a pair of singles.
Grant Banko joined Hiott with a double as well as recording a stolen base.
Jack Mahan (2-2) took the loss after surrendering five runs on four hits through 3.2 innings despite striking out four batters. Frank Grandinette (5-2) earned the win as he seemed to improve with each of his eight innings pitched.
The two squads meet again at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday with a double header beginning at 1:00 PM.
