ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd softball team won the finale of the three-game series with No. 9 Saint Leo knocking off the Lions on
Nikole Van Gennep's walk-off single in the eighth inning. The win gave Eckerd the series win over Saint Leo after dropping the first game of the doubleheader.
In the opener, Eckerd took a 4-0 lead after the fifth inning but Saint Leo scored five runs in the sixth to take the win. In the finale, Saint Leo took a 2-0 lead after four innings but
Carrie Shere tied the score in the fifth inning on a two-run homerun before Van Gennep smacked the walk-off hit in the extra-inning thriller.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Saint Leo 5, Eckerd 4
Records: Eckerd 11-17 (2-9 SSC), Saint Leo 23-8 (7-7 SSC)
WP: Mounts (11-4)
LP: Gaburo (0-3)
SV: Mitts (3)
Game Two
Final: Eckerd 3, Saint Leo 2 (8 Innings)
Records: Eckerd 12-17 (3-9 SSC), Saint Leo 23-9 (7-8 SSC)
WP: Van Gennep (10-8)
LP: Mounts (11-5)
HR: Shere (3)
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- Saint Leo looked to score in the first inning after the first two batters of the game reached. The Triton defense, however, prevented any runs from crossing as Eckerd cut down Ashley Morris at third following a rundown and Ally Costa was able to coax two flyouts to get out of the inning.
- The Tritons took the lead in the fourth inning with three runs. After a Kaleigh Floyd single and a walk to Chelsea Armstrong put two runners on base, both advanced on a wild pitch. Floyd scored during the following at-bat taking advantage of a Lion error on a Dana Paul grounder. Crystal Garcia drove in Armstrong on an infield single chopped to second. Paul scored the final run of the inning crossing on a sacrifice fly by Costa.
- The Tritons scored another run in the next frame as Van Gennep scored taking advantage of another Saint Leo error on an Armstrong grounder.
- Saint Leo finally broke through in a big way, plating five runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead. After the first two batters of the inning reached base, the Lions drove in the first run on a single by Amanda James. SLU scored the following two runs on back-to-back hit batters with the bases loaded before a two-run double by pinch-hitter Maddy Lynn brought in the tying and go-ahead runs.
- Eckerd loaded the bases in the sixth inning looking to tie the score but was unable to produce a run.
Game Two
- Saint Leo scored first in the third inning. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Brittany Creamer singled up the middle driving in the run. The Lions scored again the next inning following a Triton error on a stolen base.
- Eckerd quickly evened the score in the fifth inning. Garcia led off the frame with a double to left center and Shere drove her in two batters later on the homerun smacked to right center.
- Neither team was able to produce the go-ahead run in the final two innings, forcing the game into extras.
- The Tritons allowed the leadoff batter to reach in the extra frame on a single by pinch-hitter Bethany Kursch. Pinch-runner Ciara McCoy was able to advance to third following a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, but Van Gennep coaxed a lineout to escape the inning.
- Shere led off the eighth with a walk and advanced to second on a Kaylin Kramer sacrifice bunt. After Kayelee Newstrom was retired, Van Gennep delivered a two-out RBI walk-off single up the middle as Shere beat the throw at the plate for the winning run.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Newstrom led Eckerd in the opener with two hits while Garcia led the Tritons in the finale with two.
- Van Gennep picked up her 10th win of the season allowing just two runs (one earned) while striking out four over eight innings.
- Costa threw her third straight game keeping the opposing bats fairly quiet, allowing just three hits over five innings in the first game.
- This is the first series win over Saint Leo since 2014, where Eckerd swept the Lions.
- Eckerd now has three wins over Top 10 ranked opponents this season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd continues conference action traveling to Rollins for a three-game series starting with a single game Friday at 7:00 PM.
