Box Score CLEARWATER, Fla. - The 2017 season opener couldn't have gone much better for the Eckerd softball team.
Nikole Van Gennep began her sophomore campaign with a flourish, tossing a two-hitter as the Tritons handed Chadron State (Neb.) a 4-0 loss at the EC Spring Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
The Tritons (1-0) also showed discipline at the plate in the debut of new head coach
Katie Grimes drawing six walks, three of which came with the bases loaded in the second inning as
Kiley King,
Carrie Shere and
Rachael Luckett all produced runs.
Those three were more than enough than for Van Gennep, who struck out seven and didn't allow a runner to advance past second base.
Van Gennep padded Eckerd's lead with an RBI single in the fourth.
Luckett provided the first hit of the season for Eckerd, ripping a double off the wall in right-center in the first inning.
The Tritons had chances to do more damage early, but left the bases loaded twice and stranded eight in the first four innings.
But that didn't matter, due to Van Gennep's work in the circle and stellar defense behind her.
Eckerd returns to action tomorrow taking on Florida Southern at 11:00 AM and the University of Tampa at 1:30 PM.
