Tritons Stage Comeback to Clip Florida Tech in Series Opener

Box Score MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Eckerd baseball team seems to be developing a penchant for the dramatic.

Two weeks after a ninth-inning rally erased a five-run deficit at Saint Leo, the Tritons put together another late rally, this time overcoming a 7-0 deficit to open the final series of the season with an 8-7 win over Florida Tech.

The comeback started with a seven-run outburst in the top of the eighth as Eckerd (17-26, 5-17 SSC) rallied to tie the game.  Matt MacMahon and Garrett Hiott each had RBIs early in the inning, setting the stage for clutch two-out hits from Nick Conti, Tom Buonopane and Jake O'Rourke with O'Rourke's two-run double tying the contest at 7-7.

From that point on, it was a pair of freshmen and a pair of seniors that helped clinch the win.

Freshman Kelsey Lunde tossed a scoreless eighth inning to keep the game tied and give Eckerd a chance to take the lead in the ninth.

The Tritons did just that with two outs when seniors Grant Banko and Nick Hill delivered.

Banko got things started with a single, then swiped second base to move into scoring position for Eckerd's most dangerous hitter.

Hill did the rest, smashing a single to center field that brought in Banko with the go-ahead run.

Working in a different role, freshman Dillon McCollough - normally a weekend starter - entered the game in the ninth looking to preserve the win.  He allowed a one-out single, but stranded the tying run after getting a groundout and a strikeout to end the game.

The Panthers (27-21, 9-13 SSC) built what looked to be a comfortable lead behind the pitching of freshman Andrew Marzheuser, who held the Tritons to three hits in the first seven innings while striking out nine.  FIT also got home runs from Florida transfer John Sternagel and Ryan Sinzenich and drew four walks in the seventh to take a seven-run advantage.

However, Florida Tech went to its bullpen in the eighth, and Eckerd quickly jumped on Rhett Willis and Brett Porter to erase the deficit.

Lunde (1-0) picked up his first career win while McCollough notched his first career save.  Jack Silberman received a no-decision in his final college start, allowing four runs over 5-2/3 innings while striking out four.

Buonopane and O'Rourke led Eckerd at the plate with two hits each.

The series concludes on Saturday with a double-header beginning at noon.