ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After nearly a week away from competition, the Eckerd baseball team returns to the field this weekend for a three-game series at provisional conference member Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach.
GAMES 25-27: Eckerd (9-15) at Embry-Riddle (22-13)
Saturday 4:00 PM | Sunday 12:00 PM (DH)COVERAGE: Watch |
StatsPROBABLE STARTERS: Jack Mahan (2-1, 2.73 ERA) |
Alex Moore (1-2, 4.37 ERA) |
Dillon McCollough (2-2, 4.80 ERA)
MAHAN ON THE MOUND: After working primarily as a reliever earlier in the season, sophomore
Jack Mahan has moved into the game one starter on the weekend. His first start of the season came on March 25 against No. 9 Florida Southern, and he pitched a dandy allowing just one earned run over four innings while striking out six. The Andover, Massachusetts, native is among the team's leaders in strikeouts-per-nine (10.6).
AUTOMATIC AUTIELLO: Junior transfer
Daniel Autiello has established himself in the middle of the Triton lineup. Since February 20, Autiello is hitting .378 with nine RBIs and has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games.
SETTING THE TABLE: The leadoff hitter's job is to get on base. EC leadoff man
Tom Buonopane has done just that this season, entering this weekend's series with a 10-game streak of reaching base safely. Buonopane ranks second on the team in on-base percentage (.432) and third in batting average (.365).
ABOUT THE EAGLES: Embry-Riddle has been able to make a rather smooth transition thus far from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The provisional members are 8-10 against SSC opponents this season, highlighted by taking two of three games from the University of Tampa in late March. Six of their regular starters hit .312 or better, led by Liam Goodall's .352 average.
