CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team got strong pitching performances from
Nikole Van Gennep and
Hannah Perkins combined with some timely offense as the Tritons opened the NFCA Leadoff Classic with two wins Friday. The Tritons shut out California (Pa.), 5-0, in the opener before topping Wayne State (Mich.), 5-1, in the finale.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Eckerd 5, California 0
WP: Van Gennep (2-1)
LP: Downing (0-1)
HR: Van Gennep (1)
Game Two
Final: Eckerd 5, Wayne State 1
WP: Perkins (1-1)
LP: Ameel (0-1)
Records: Eckerd 3-3, California 0-2, Wayne State 1-1
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- Eckerd jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Van Gennep and Hannah Famiano led off the game with a pair of walks and each advanced a base on a fly out by Kaylin Kramer. Van Gennep scored on a wild pitch and Famiano also scored on the play after an errant throw at the plate got away from the Vulcans' catcher.
- Van Gennep was perfect in the circle over the first three innings striking out five Vulcans.
- The Tritons tacked on three insurance runs in the fourth inning. Ally Costa and Skylar Redish led off the frame with a walk and single, then advanced a base on a Kassy Torres sacrifice bunt to set the table for Van Gennep. Van Gennep delivered on the second pitch she saw, drilling a homerun over the fence in right center.
- The Vulcans threatened in the fourth and sixth innings but both times the Eckerd defense was able to escape the jam. In the fourth, the Vulcans put runners on the corners with one out but Eckerd got a pop up and a groundout to end the threat. In the sixth, three singles loaded the bases with two outs but Van Gennep retired the next batter with a strikeout to end the threat again.
Game Two
- Eckerd again jumped out to an early lead scoring in the opening frame. Famiano reached following a Warrior error that allowed her to advance to second base. Meridith McGinnis brought her in with a two-out single up the middle.
- Perkins, meanwhile, was dealing in the circle. She left two runners stranded in both the first and fifth innings while retiring the side in the second and fourth innings. WSU managed to get one run in the third frame. After back-to-back singles, the Warriors pushed the run across following an RBI fielder's choice but Eckerd forced an inning-ending double play to escape the jam.
- EC added a run in the fourth taking advantage of another Warrior error. Redish doubled to left center to lead off the inning followed by a walk drawn by Valerie Holguin. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kayelee Newstrom and Redish scored after a dropped Torres popup.
- The Tritons added three insurance runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-1 lead. Back-to-back pinch-hit doubles by Meagan Smith and Madison Saltzman brought in the first two runs before a sacrifice fly by Van Gennep plated the final run of the inning.
- Van Gennep relieved Perkins in the sixth throwing the final two innings coaxing an inning-ending double play in the sixth and stranding a runner in the seventh.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Redish and McGinnis led Eckerd with two hits on the day while Van Gennep drove in four runs. Van Gennep's home run was her first of the season.
- Smith and Saltzman both clubbed their first career doubles while Smith's was her first career hit.
- Perkins collected her first career win throwing five innings while allowing one run.
- Van Gennep earned her 14th career shutout while striking out a career-high nine batters in the opener.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action in the NFCA leadoff classic tomorrow facing No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) at 10:00 AM and Lee (Tenn.) at 12:00 PM.
