Flagler Edges Tritons in Pitchers' Duel

Box Score SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The duo of Dillon McCullough and Jack Mahan combined on a four-hitter, but the Flagler (Fla.) Saints won a pitching duel over the Eckerd baseball team on Friday night, 2-1, in the first of a three-game series.

A single by Flagler's Lorenzo Butler in the bottom of the sixth turned out to be the difference, breaking a 1-1 tie.

The Tritons (2-4) had a chance to tie or even take the lead in the top of the ninth after loading the bases with one out following singles from Mitch Calandra and Garrett Hiott and a walk drawn by Terence Hebda.

But Luke Cooksey was able to close the door for the Saints (4-1), coaxing a pop-up and groundout from the next two hitters to strand the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

Eckerd's lone run came in the fourth inning.  With runners on the corners, Tom Buonopane scored after a passed ball by FC catcher Jason Moore.

Flagler got onto the board in the bottom of the third after loading the bases with no outs.  McCullough limited the damage, allowing only an RBI groundout to escape the inning.

Despite the loss, McCullough (0-1) put together another strong outing allowing only four hits in six innings while striking out nine.  Mahan pitched two hitless innings in relief.

The Tritons out-hit Flagler, 7-4, getting two hits each from Calandra and Nick Conti.

The teams conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.