Tritons Take Two From Florida Tech to Claim Series

MELBOURNE, Fla. - An offensive explosion in the opener and a stellar ninth-inning relief performance in the finale highlighted a successful day for the Eckerd baseball team as the Tritons swept a double-header from Florida Tech to win the weekend series.

The Tritons pounded a season-high 24 hits and scored in each of the first six innings - including a six-run fifth - while Nick Alonzo threw six shutout innings in the front end of the twinbill.

Eckerd carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth of the last game, but Florida Tech scored a run and had the bases loaded with no outs.  Joey Favetta, however, got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to earn the save.

HOW IT ENDED
Game 1 Final: Eckerd 16, Florida Tech 2
WP: Alonzo (3-1)  HR: Glover (2)

Game 2 Final: Eckerd 9, Florida Tech 8
WP: Kane (1-0)  Sv: Favetta (1)  HR: Cochrane (2)

Records: Eckerd 7-8 (2-4 SSC); Florida Tech 5-12 (1-5 SSC)

KEY MOMENTS
Game 1

• With two outs in the top of the first, Eckerd saw four straight batters reach base culminating with a bases-loaded walk by Nick Arrivo.  The Tritons added another two-out run in the second, this time on an RBI single by Chase Achuff.
• Eckerd scored twice more in the third and again in the fourth on RBI's from Arrivo, Justin Glover, Keith Leavitt, Jr. and Garrett Hiott.  The Tritons then blew the game open in the top of the fifth with six runs.
• The Panthers had a good scoring chance in the third, loading the bases against Alonzo with two hits and a walk and only one out, but Alonzo got a strikeout and a groundout to escape the inning.
• Mitch Calandra added an RBI double in the sixth and Glover smashed a three-run homerun over the right field fence.

Game 2

• After Sam Cochrane led off the game with a solo home run, the Tritons tacked on five more runs in the top of the second on six hits.  Cochrane and Achuff delivered back-to-back RBI singles early in the inning before Hiott laid down a perfect two-out bunt for another run.
• FIT, which scored twice in the first inning, added two more in the third.  Eckerd scored again in the fourth after Leavitt, Jr. walked and swiped second and third before Hiott singled to bring him in.
• The Panthers tied the game in the fifth with three runs, all of which came with two outs after Kevin Kane retired the first two batters of the inning.
• Eckerd reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh after Leavitt, Jr. and Hiott put together back-to-back hits placing them on second and third.  Matt Miller's RBI groundout scored the go-ahead run, and Glover followed with a sacrifice fly.
• Trailing by two, Florida Tech threatened in the bottom of the ninth with the first four runners reaching base.  After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Kevin Capella drew a walk to score Jacob Buser from third and bring the tying and winning runs into scoring position.  Favetta came on in relief and recorded two huge strikeouts before retiring the last batter to close the game.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Cochrane had base hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
• Hiott had seven hits over the two games, going a combined 7-for-10 with four RBIs.
• Glover went 4-for-6 in the opener for his first career four-hit game.
• Alonzo picked up the win in the opener behind a quality start, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings while striking out five.
• Robin Allen received a no-decision as the game two starter, allowing four runs (two earned) in four innings of work while fanning six. Kane tossed four innings in relief, allowing three runs in his first inning but shutting down the Panthers going forward.

UP NEXT
The Tritons take on Cedarville (Ohio) University on Tuesday in Kissimmee at 5:00 PM.