ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In their first SSC series of the year, the Eckerd softball team jumped out to an early lead against the University of Tampa on Friday night after a solo homerun by
Nikole Van Gennep in the third inning. However, Tampa rallied with five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead as the Tritons fell, 7-1, at the Turley Athletic Complex.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Tampa 7, Eckerd 1
Records: Eckerd 4-6 (0-1 SSC); Tampa 7-1 (1-0 SSC)
WP: Dooley (5-0)
LP: Van Gennep (3-3)
HR: Van Gennep (2), Miner (1)
KEY MOMENTS
- Van Gennep gave up a double to the second batter of the game before settling in and retiring the next eight batters to keep the Spartans off the board through three innings.
- Van Gennep gave Eckerd the lead in the third inning with a solo homerun with two outs. Van Gennep fell behind in the count but delivered on the 0-2 pitch with a shot over the centerfield fence for her second homer of the season.
- Tampa took the lead in the next frame with all five runs coming with two outs. After a leadoff walk, the Eckerd defense got a quick two outs before the Spartans evened the score with an RBI single to center field. After two walks, the Spartans added another four runs via three straight hits: a two-run single from Makayleigh Dooley followed by an RBI double and RBI single.
- The Spartans added another two runs in the fifth inning off a Corynn Miner two-run homerun.
- The Eckerd offense struggled over the final four innings. Kaylin Kramer looked to spark a comeback in the seventh as she sent a shot to the right-field wall that looked to be a homerun but the ball was caught on the warning track.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Van Gennep took the loss allowing five runs over four innings while striking out two. Ally Costa threw the final three innings allowing two runs.
- Van Gennep's homerun was her second of the season and seventh of her career.
- Tampa's 11 hits in the game were the most of the season for the Spartans.
- Skylar Redish drew a walk in the second inning off Dooley, the first free pass issued by Dooley all season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes the series with Tampa tomorrow with a doubleheader at 1:00 PM.