ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Eckerd baseball team opened up a three-game series against Claflin on Saturday afternoon with two high-powered offensive performances in wins of 10-6 and 16-7. The Tritons racked up a combined 22 hits and four home runs over both games at the Turley Athletic Complex.
In the opening game, Eckerd used a five-run second inning to take an early lead that was backed by a dominant pitching performance from
Dillon McCollough. Eckerd continued to add to its lead later in the game with runs in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings while holding off the Panthers for the 10-6 win.
In the back end of the doubleheader, the Tritons scored early and often putting up 13 runs through four innings including seven runs in the fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam from
Bryan Torres which was his second home run of the day. The Triton offense was backed by another strong pitching performance by
Nick Alonzo.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Eckerd 10, Claflin 6
WP: McCollough (1-0)
LP: Parker (0-2)
HR: Chaney (1), Torres (2)
Game Two
Final: Eckerd 16, Claflin 7
Records: Eckerd 4-2, Claflin 1-8
WP: Alonzo (2-0)
LP: Carter (0-2)
HR: Cochrane (1), Torres (3)
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- The Tritons loaded the bases to start the second inning with walks to Mitch Calandra and Justin Glover followed by Garrett Hiott being hit by a pitch. Eckerd took full advantage, plating five runs in the inning. Torres brought in the first run drawing a walk with the bases loaded. Sam Cochrane and Chase Achuff followed with back-to-back RBI singles with Cochrane's driving in two. Nick Conti drove in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left.
- McCollough kept the Panther bats at bay over the first four innings while striking out five until Claflin scored two runs in the fifth inning on a Gayland Fowler two-run double.
- Eckerd added another run in the fourth on Jamaal Chaney's first home run of the season, a solo shot over the left-center wall. The Tritons tallied two more runs in the fifth on a Calandra sacrifice fly and a Hiott RBI single.
- Claflin chipped into the Eckerd lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs on an RBI single and back-to-back RBI doubles. Eckerd, however, responded to the Panthers' four-run inning extending its lead with a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings with the latter coming off a Torres home run.
Game Two
- Eckerd took an early commanding lead with 13 runs over the first four innings. Cochrane led off the game unloading on a ball over the right centerfield wall for Eckerd's first run. The Tritons plated three runs in the second inning on RBIs from Glover, Chaney, and Achuff.
- Eckerd did most of its damage in the fourth inning with seven runs in the frame. EC scored the first three runs of the inning on RBI singles from Achuff, Calandra, and Glover. The highlight of the inning came later on a grand slam by Torres, who blasted the ball over the left field wall to put Eckerd up 13-1.
- The Eckerd bats quieted down in the following two innings but the Tritons added another three runs later in the night with two in the seventh and one in the eighth.
- Claflin remained fairly quiet on offense scoring a run each in the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings before heating up in the ninth inning with three runs.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Torres led Eckerd at the plate over both games with six RBIs and two home runs on the day. Chaney collected two hits in the opener while Glover and Achuff led Eckerd in the second game with three hits apiece.
- Eckerd also showed patience at the plate drawing 16 walks over both games to go along with 22 hits. Ten of the walks and 15 of the hits came in the second game.
- McCollough and Alonzo earned both wins on the day in dominant outings. McCollough threw 5.2 innings allowing five runs (two earned) while striking out eight. Alonzo threw six innings scattering three runs on four hits while striking out five.
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes the three game series with Claflin tomorrow with a single game scheduled for noon.
