Cochrane, Conti Extend Streaks in Loss to Southeastern

Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A five-run fourth inning proved to be decisive as Southeastern (Fla.) won its 16th straight game after edging the Eckerd baseball team, 9-7, on Tuesday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.

Eckerd (3-7) took its only lead of the game in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs with two outs in the inning.  Chase Achuff delivered a two-run single followed by another RBI single from Justin Glover to give the Tritons a 4-2 lead.  The inning almost continued but Daniel Autiello was robbed of a hit after a leaping grab by Southeastern third baseman Alex Stephens ended the threat and stranded two runners.

The Fire (16-0) then opened the fourth inning with three straight hits to bring in a run and scored four more times with two outs on the board on a pair of two-run singles by Stephens and Gerald Ceballos.

The Tritons got two runs back in the bottom of the inning via an RBI single by Tom Buonopane and a run-scoring groundout by Mitch Calandra, but SEU plated runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 9-6 lead.

After chasing Southeastern starter Corey Stump in the third and touching reliever Oscar Sandoval for two more runs in the fourth, the Tritons had trouble scoring against the rest of the SEU bullpen.  EC's final run came in the eighth inning on a two-out infield single by Nick Conti that brought in Sam Cochrane.

Both teams scored runs in the first inning with Buonopane's RBI single getting the Tritons on the board.  SEU added another run in the second before Eckerd took the lead in the third.

The Tritons out-hit Southeastern, 13-10, but hit into inning-ending double plays in the first, second and seventh frames to erase scoring opportunities.

Cochrane and Achuff both had three hits to lead Eckerd while Cochrane and Conti extended their hitting streaks to 10 games.

Eight pitchers took the mound for the Tritons with starter Robin Allen (0-1) taking the loss after 3-1/3 innings of work.  Cameron Lanzilli, Lucas Spetsas and Justin Carrillo each tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the final three innings.

Eckerd opens Sunshine State Conference play on Friday hosting the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, Nova Southeastern, at 7:00 PM.  The series concludes with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM.