ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team will play its last home games of the year as the Tritons host No. 23 Tampa for a three-game conference series beginning on Friday.
GAMES 47-49: No. 23 University of Tampa at Eckerd College (17-29, 6-15 SSC) |
Friday 6:00 PM | Saturday (DH) 1:00 PM
Turley Athletic Complex
Coverage: Stats |
Video
SENIOR DAY
- The series marks the final home games for three seniors.
Kiley King,
Kayla Saylor, and
Amber Schaad will be honored before Saturday's doubleheader playing their final game at the Turley Athletic Complex.
SERIES SUMMARY
- Last weekend, the Tritons dropped the series to Florida Tech two games to one. Eckerd won the opener by a score of 9-8. Eckerd had two big innings capped by home runs and was able to hold off a late Panthers rally. EC scored four runs in the third off
Chelsea Armstrong's single and
Carrie Shere's three-run homer. Eckerd followed in the fifth with five runs off of
Rachael Luckett's two-run blast, King's single to left, and
Kaleigh Floyd's two-run shot up the middle. Florida Tech fought back with five runs in the sixth and threatened again in the seventh before
Janna Gaburo escaped a bases-loaded jam picking up the save.
Nikole Van Gennep grabbed her twelfth win in the circle throwing five innings.
- On Saturday, Eckerd dropped both games by scores of 13-3 and 5-1. In the first game, the Tritons scored three runs in the fourth as Van Gennep doubled in Luckett and Armstrong followed by
Dana Paul's single. Eckerd scored its only run in the finale in the first a
Crystal Garcia crossed off an errant throw.
JUNIOR LEADERS
- Four Tritons lead Eckerd at the plate – Luckett (.294), Garcia (.271), Armstrong (.246), and Shere (.204).
- Luckett smacked her second home run of the season Friday. She has also laced eight doubles and one triple to drive in 16 runs. Luckett enters the series on a seven-game reached base streak. Luckett ranks within the top of the conference in runs scored (30), at-bats (143), and walks (22).
- Garcia has scored 18 runs while plating five. Garcia enters the series riding a four-game hit streak. Garcia tops the conference in at-bats (155) while her 18 stolen bases rank sixth.
- Armstrong has driven in a team-high 22 runs. Armstrong's five strikeouts tie for fourth-fewest in the conference.
- Shere has produced in the last three conference series smashing a home run in each series. Shere had ripped five doubles and five home runs to bring in 19 runs.
IN THE CIRCLE
- Van Gennep provides a big arm on the mound for the Tritons. She ranks among the top in the conference in innings pitched (182.1), strikeouts (80), strikeouts looking (21), and wins (12).
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Grace Willeck (2-7) and Gaburo (3-4) work behind Van Gennep splitting time in the No 2 spot. Gaburo works with a 4.03 ERA over 48.2 innings of work. Willeck has fanned 55 over 69.2 innings.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Tampa is coming off a big series last weekend sweeping then No 4 Saint Leo moving Tampa up in the rankings to No 23.
- Five of the Spartans starting lineup are hitting over .300. Bre Setree's batting average and slugging percentage rank second in the conference with a .387/.452/.604 slash line.
- Makaleigh Dooley (16-5) and Corynn Miner (11-3) also lead the conference in many categories. Dooley is the reigning pitcher of the week with a 1.71 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Miner maintains a 1.79 ERA with 80 punchouts.
LAST TIME THEY MET
- The two teams met at the Eckerd Invitational in Clearwater in the beginning of the season with Tampa winning 3-1. Paul drove in Eckerd's run on a single to center field.
- Tampa took two of three games from Eckerd last season. Eckerd took the finale 7-6; Gaburo took the win while Van Gennep earned the save.
