Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Hits were at a premium at the Turley Athletic Complex in Friday's weekend series opener as the Eckerd softball team hosted No. 23 Tampa.
Backed by
Nikole Van Gennep's one-hit performance, the Tritons scored an upset over the SSC leaders, 1-0.
Eckerd's (18-29, 7-15 SSC) lone run came in the fifth inning via
Amber Schaad's perfectly-executed squeeze bunt.
Dana Paul led off the inning with a double off the right-center field fence before advancing to third on
Kiley King's sacrifice bunt.
Schaad followed by laying a bunt down the first base line to score Paul who slid under the tag at the plate.
Van Gennep (13-17) handled the rest in the circle. Looking to echo her no-hit outing from three weeks ago, she did not allow a baserunner through 4-1/3 innings while striking out six. However, Tampa's Maddison Farrell broke the perfect game bid by singling to right in the fifth inning.
That was the only hit Van Gennep surrendered, as she went back to work allowing only two more base runners in the final two innings.
The Triton defense was phenomenal behind Van Gennep in helping limit the Spartans (27-9, 14-5 SSC).
Chelsea Armstrong snagged a hard shot coming down the line at third in the sixth before Eckerd ended the game with a double play.
Garcia accounted for two of Eckerd's hits as Paul and Van Gennep each had one.
The series concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. Before the games, Eckerd will honor its three seniors in King, Schaad, and
Kayla Saylor.
