ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd baseball season came to an end on Sunday as No. 2 Tampa completed a weekend sweep with an 8-1 victory in the series finale.
The Tritons scored first on a
Keith Leavitt, Jr. RBI single in the bottom of the first, but could muster no more offense against another stingy performance by the Spartan pitching staff.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: #2 Tampa 8, Eckerd 1
Records: Eckerd 22-27 (10-20 SSC), Tampa 38-7 (26-1 SSC)
WP: Bickel (2-2) Â
LP: Allen (4-5) Â
Sv: Calleja (1) Â
HR: Ehrhard (4)
KEY MOMENTS
- After Robin Allen set down the side in order in the top of the first, Garrett Hiott laid down a bunt single and stole second to move into scoring position. Â Leavitt, Jr. brought him home with a two-out single through the hole on the right side.
- Tampa tied the game in the top of the second on an RBI groundout by Stephen Smith, then took the lead in the third on a two-out solo homerun by Drew Ehrhard.
- Brandon Gali's leadoff double in the fifth inning triggered a four-run inning capped by a two-run single by Danny Sirven
- The Spartans wrapped up their scoring with two runs in the seventh aided by a trio of doubles.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- The game brought an end to the careers of five seniors - Derek Lamensdorf, Gardner Nutter, Kevin Kane, Nick Alonzo, and Andrew Don. Â Nutter retired the side in order in the sixth in his final appearance while Kane allowed two runs in the seventh.
- Hiott went 2-for-4 and ends the season with a team-best and a career-high .337 batting average.
- After striking out 11 on Saturday, the Eckerd pitching staff combined for only one strikeout in the finale.
