ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – After five days off, the Eckerd softball team heads to ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida, for the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic. The Tritons will play five games over the weekend facing some tough competition including No. 4 University of North Georgia, No. 17 Armstrong State (Ga.), and Spring Hill College (Ala).
Game 17: Eckerd College (7-9, 0-3 SSC) vs. No. 4 University of North Georgia (14-4) | Friday, 1:15 PM
Game 18: No. 17 Armstrong State (7-3) vs Eckerd College | Friday, 5:45 PM
Game 19: No. 4 University of North Georgia vs. Eckerd College | Saturday, 1:15 PM
Game 20: Eckerd College vs. No. 17 Armstrong State | Saturday, 5:45 PM
Game 21: Eckerd College vs. Spring Hill College (11-4) | Sunday, 9:30 AM
Eckerd opened conference play last weekend hosting Florida Southern for a three-game series. The Tritons lost all three games by scores of 4-1 (10 innings), 9-1 and 4-3. In the first game of the series, sophomore pitcher
Nikole Van Gennep kept FSC off-balance holding FSC scoreless until the 10th inning. The Mocs won the game in the 10th managing four runs on five hits.
Kaleigh Floyd went 4-for-9 in the series driving a run in in the finale. Junior
Carrie Shere went 2-for-3 on Saturday smacking her second home run of the season.
RED-HOT LEFTIES
- Junior
Rachael Luckett has had a hot start to the season. The first baseman leads the team's offense hitting .327 with four doubles, a triple, and a homerun while driving in 12 runs. Luckett also is a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
- Junior
Crystal Garcia has made an immediate impact for the team this season. Garcia has swiped nine bags already and her .291 batting average is third on the team
- Junior
Kaleigh Floyd is hitting .296, second-best on the team, while leading the team in on-base percentage (.424). Floyd has a four-game hit streak alive and has reached base safely in the past 10 games.
IN THE CIRCLE
- Van Gennep has done a majority of the work in the circle for the Tritons. In 80 innings pitched, Van Gennep is 4-7 with a 2.01 ERA and 30 strikeouts.
- Juniors
Grace Willeck (2-1) and
Janna Gaburo (1-1) have pitched a combined 31.1 innings. Willeck has 15 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.
ABOUT ARMSTRONG STATE
- Armstrong State comes into the weekend with just three losses, two of which came in close games against No. 8 Saint Leo.
- Hannah Reppert leads the offense hitting .478. Six of her 11 hits have been home runs, leading her to an impressive 1.391 slugging percentage. Jane Trzaska (.424), Logan Harrell (.375), and Katie Collins (.370) are all hitting above .300 and have a combined six home runs.
- Sierra Peebles and Jane Trzaska have done most of the work in the circle for the Pirates. In 29 innings pitched, Peebles is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA. Trzaska has pitched 18 innings with a 1.94 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
ABOUT NORTH GEORGIA
- UNG has started its season strong with just four losses, two of which are to ranked opponents. The Nighthawks went 4-0 last weekend at the Captain D's Classic, racking up 20 runs over Seton Hill (Pa.) University.
- The Nighthawks have a powerful offense as five starters are hitting above .400. Stephanie Hartness (.484) leads the Nighthawks with 17 extra-base hits (nine doubles, five triples, and three home runs). Sydney Sprague (.458) has smacked six doubles and five home runs. Shelby Hammontree (.435), Kaylyn Anthony (.400), and Alishia Frierson (.400) are all hitting .400 or better while Hammontree and Anthony have four home runs apiece.
- Kylee Smith (8-1), Amber Johns (2-0), and Bria Bush (3-3) have spread the work in the circle. Smith has been dominant this far with a 0.90 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
ABOUT SPRING HILL
- The Badgers are coming off of a three-game sweep over Kentucky State University in conference play. Spring Hill lost a close game to then-No. 1 North Alabama in its second game of the season.
- The Badgers are led offensively by Kali Clement hitting .468 with five home runs and 19 RBI. Behind her is Katelyn Wilson (.393), Carmen Byrd (.356), Aly Fowler (.353), Jenna Charnock (.347), Savannah Woodruff (.316), and Baylie Doiron (.308) all hitting over .300.
- Danielle Clark (7-2) has been the workhorse for the Badgers pitching 64.1 innings with a 2.94 ERA and 44 strikeouts. Baylie Doiron (2-0) and Katelyn Wilson (2-2) have done the rest of the work with 1.95 and 2.07 ERA respectively.
