LAKELAND, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team split a pair of games at Florida Southern on Saturday afternoon, winning the finale to conclude the three-game SSC series. After falling behind early in the final game, Eckerd slowly chipped away at the Mocs' lead and completed the comeback win in the seventh via a two-run double by
Dana Paul.
Eckerd dropped the day's opening game, 6-1. The Tritons took an early lead with a run in the opening inning, but the Mocs grabbed the lead in the bottom of the frame while adding to the score in the fourth and fifth innings for the win.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Florida Southern 6, Eckerd 1
Records: Eckerd 3-10 (0-5 SSC), Florida Southern 8-3 (3-2 SSC)
WP: Beacham (3-0)
LP: Van Gennep (3-7)
Sv: Gault (1)
Game Two
Final: Eckerd 5, Florida Southern 4
Records: Eckerd 4-10 (1-5 SSC), Florida Southern 8-4 (3-3 SSC)
WP: Willeck (1-1)
LP: Gault (3-1)
Sv: Van Gennep (1)
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- Eckerd jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nikole Van Gennep led off the game with a single up the middle before being advanced to third on a Kaleigh Floyd sacrifice bunt and a Crystal Garcia single. Chelsea Armstrong then delivered in the next at-bat, drilling a single to right field driving in Van Gennep.
- FSC quickly responded in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. After letting the lead-off batter on with a single, Shannon Bell hit a triple to drive in the first run. Bell was brought in the next at-bat on a Moccasin single.
- The score remained tight until the fourth inning when the Mocs added another run scoring off a Triton fielding error.
- The Mocs tacked on three runs in the fifth inning on a two-run double and a single.
- The Tritons were able to get the leadoff runner aboard in the third and sixth innings but were unable to push a run across.
Game Two
- Florida Southern raced out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Three singles loaded the bases for the Mocs where Desirae Klumpp drew a walk for the first run. The Mocs then scored another two runs on a single before Eckerd was able to get out of the inning.
- Eckerd quickly responded scoring two runs in the third inning. Van Gennep struck out but reached base on a dropped third strike to begin the inning before Garcia followed with a single. Van Gennep advanced to third on a stolen base and scored on a wild pitch. Armstrong then delivered another RBI single driving in Garcia for the second run.
- The Mocs added another run in the sixth after taking advantage of an Eckerd error.
- Poised for a comeback win, Eckerd came through in the seventh inning scoring three runs to take a 5-4 lead. Hannah Famiano led off the inning reaching on an error and advanced to third on a Van Gennep single. Armstrong followed two batters later with her third RBI single of the day, driving in Famiano for the first of three runs in the inning. Paul then smashed a double to left center driving in the tying and go-ahead runs.
- Van Gennep came on to close the game in the seventh inning and quickly retired the first two batters before the Mocs got two straight singles looking to put the winning run on base. Van Gennep, however, ended the threat with a strikeout to seal the win.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Van Gennep and Garcia led Eckerd with two hits apiece in the first game while Garcia and Armstrong had two hits each in the second game. Armstrong led the team with three RBI's over both games.
- Grace Willeck earned her first win of the season throwing four innings of relief allowing just two hits while Van Gennep earned the first save of the season. Willeck also threw one inning of relief in the opening game without giving up a hit. She allowed just two hits over five innings in both games.
- Van Gennep extended her reached base streak to 11 games with hits in both contests.
UP NEXT
Eckerd faces a bye weekend from conference play next weekend and will host Tiffin (Ohio) for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4:00 PM.
