ROME, Ga. - After a pair of solid pitching performances carried the way for Eckerd baseball on opening day, the Tritons' bats came alive on Sunday in the series finale as Eckerd defeated Shorter, 10-6, to take the series.
The Tritons trailed 4-3 after three innings, but scored four runs over the next three frames while keeping Shorter from crossing the plate. Â A two-run home run by
Bryan Torres helped add to the lead in the eighth.
Justin Carrillo earned his first collegiate win in relief, tossing 3-1/3 hitless innings.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 10, Shorter 6
Records: Eckerd 2-1, Shorter 1-2
All-Time Series: Eckerd leads, 2-1
WP: Carrillo (1-0) Â
LP: Urban (0-1) Â
HR: Torres (1)
KEY MOMENTS
- For the third time this weekend, Eckerd pushed the game's first run across the plate. Â Sam Cochrane and Mitch Calandra opened the game with back-to-back doubles for the quick lead.
- Keith Leavitt, Jr., delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the third to tie the game at 3-3.
- The Hawks retook the lead in the bottom of the third, but an error in the top of the fourth allowed Torres to score from second after he reached with a one-out double.
- After Santos Grande reached on an error and advanced to third to lead off the fifth, Garrett Hiott's RBI groundout gave Eckerd the lead for good.
- The Tritons added insurance runs in the sixth via a Sam Cochrane RBI double and a balk that brought Torres home. Â EC scored three more times in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Torres before Hiott added a two-out RBI single.
- The Hawks scored twice in the bottom of the eighth and threatened to add more with the bases loaded and one out. Â However, Cameron Lanzilli and Jack Iervolino both coaxed pop-ups to strand the tying run at the plate.
- Gardner Nutter worked a solid ninth inning, only allowing a two-out single that was stranded after he got Isaiah Maddela to line out to left for the final out of the game.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Cochrane went 3-for-3 and walked twice, reaching base safely in all five plate appearances.
- Robin Allen took a no-decision in his first start of the year, allowing four runs on three hits in four innings of work.
- The Triton infield shuffled a bit from opening day with Calandra moving from catcher to third base, Nick Conti shifting from second base to shortstop, and Torres moving from third to second. Â Glover got the start behind the plate.
UP NEXT
The Tritons play their home opener on Tuesday, hosting Florida Southern at 6:00 PM.