TAMPA, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team fell on the road at Tampa on a walk-off single Friday evening to open the three-game Sunshine State Conference series.
Eckerd struck first on a two-run double by Crystal Garica in the fourth inning, but Tampa quickly evened the score in the bottom of the inning before winning the game with two outs in the eighth inning.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Tampa 3, Eckerd 2 (8 Innings)
Records: Eckerd 20-25 (11-17 SSC), Tampa 26-16 (17-11 SSC)
WP: Dooley (24-11)
LP: Van Gennep (14-12)
KEY MOMENTS
- The Tritons pushed the first runs of the game across the plate, scoring twice in the fourth inning. Garcia roped a two-run double to centerfield to bring in Dana Paul and Kaleigh Floyd, who singled and reached on a fielder's choice in the inning. Eckerd looked to score again on the next play off Chelsea Armstrong's sharp single to third that ricocheted up the middle but the runner was cut down at the plate.
- Maddie Farrell quickly tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run double.
- Neither team was able to generate any offense in the following two innings. Tampa looked to take to win in the seventh after the leadoff batter reached and advance to third, but Van Gennep coaxed a foul out to end the inning forcing the game into extra innings.
- The Spartans scored the walk-off win in the eighth inning on a Makaleigh Dooley single up the middle, bringing in Lauren Pasco who reached on a Triton fielding error to lead off the inning.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Van Gennep, Paul, Garcia, and Armstrong each had one hit apiece in the loss. Van Gennep's single extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
- Van Gennep took the loss while throwing her 19 complete game of the season allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out three.
- This is Eckerd's eighth extra-inning game of the season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd concluded the season tomorrow with a doubleheader against Tampa at 1:00 PM.
