Fifth-Inning Rallies Lead Tritons to Sweep of Quincy

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd softball team won both ends of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon sweeping Quincy (Ill.) University at the Turley Athletic Complex, 4-2 and 5-3.

In the opener, Eckerd overcame a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning, scoring twice to take the lead.  Kayla Saylor's sacrifice fly to center field brought in Crystal Garcia to tie the game before Carly Coleman scored on an error by Quincy second baseman Jackie Farbak.

Garcia and Coleman had back-to-back singles to open the inning, then moved into scoring position after a successful double-steal.

Kaylin Kramer added another run in the sixth with a solo home run, the first of her career.

Nikole Van Gennep preserved the win after working out of a jam in the top of the seventh.  She retired the first two batters, but the next two reached on an error and a single to put runners on the corners.  Van Gennep, however, closed the door by getting Lindsey Greene to ground out ending the game.

Eckerd took an early lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Chelsea Armstrong, but the Hawks came back with two runs in the top of the second with four of their six hits coming in the frame.  Janna Gaburo got out of the inning without further damage, leaving the bases loaded.

Gaburo (2-2) retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced before giving way to Van Gennep in the sixth as she earned her first save of the season with two scoreless innings.

In the nightcap, the Tritons (11-15) again came back from a one-run deficit in the fifth inning.  This time, Eckerd scored three runs on RBIs from Armstrong, Kramer and Dana Paul to take a 5-3 lead.

Once again, Van Gennep took care of the rest.  Quincy threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs but came up empty when Van Gennep coaxed a groundout from Farbak.

The seventh inning was less eventful as the Hawks only managed a two-out single and stranded the runner as the game ended with a pop-up to Garcia at shortstop.

Quincy (1-5) scored a run in the top of the first, but Eckerd answered with two in the bottom of the inning when Hawks starter Kasey Bradley struggled with control issues.

After a Rachael Luckett single, the next three Tritons reached base after either being hit by a pitch or walked and two runners came in to score on wild pitches.

Quincy took the lead with two runs in the second, and the score remained 3-2 until Eckerd plated three in the fifth.

The Tritons had just three hits in game two but drew seven walks.

Van Gennep (7-11) earned the win in the second game, tossing five scoreless innings of relief.

Eckerd faces a tall task this weekend, resuming Sunshine State Conference play with a three-game series at No. 10 Saint Leo.