ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Justin Glover drove in five runs in the second and third innings as part of an early offensive outburst for the Eckerd baseball team, leading the Tritons to a series-opening win over Florida Southern.
Justin Glover provided an early spark with a three-run homerun and a two-run single as the Tritons scored eight runs through the first four innings.
Dillon McCollough, meanwhile, produced another quality start on the mound picking up his fifth win of the season and Eckerd added three runs late on its way to a convincing 11-4 win over the Mocs on Friday night.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 11, Florida Southern 4
WP: McCollough (5-0) LP: Bradford (0-2) HR: Glover (2)
Records: Eckerd 15-8 (6-4 SSC); Florida Southern 13-9 (0-4 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The Mocs took an early 2-0 lead following a solo homerun by Collin Camarigg in the first inning and an RBI single by Vaun Brown in the second inning.
- Eckerd quickly responded with three runs in the second via a three-run homerun by Glover. Sam Cochrane led off the inning with a four-pitch walk followed by an infield single by Chase Achuff setting the table for Glover who smashed the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence.
- The Tritons continued to jump on FSC starter Cooper Bradford in the third inning with four runs. Eckerd got its two leadoff batters aboard as Nick Conti led off the inning with a double to right and Garrett Hiott followed with a single through the right side. Mitch Calandra plated the first run of the inning with an infield single. Cochrane drew his second walk of the game to load the bases and Calandra scored after a Moccasins error on a Nick Arrivo grounder. With the bases still loaded, Glover ripped a single through the right side scoring Achuff and Cochrane.
- Achuff gave Eckerd an 8-2 lead in the fourth inning with a single sliced down the right field line driving in Hiott.
- EC loaded the bases again in the sixth inning via a Conti single, Hiott walk, and Achuff hit-by-pitch. Arrive drove a two-run shot up the middle giving Eckerd a 10-2 lead.
- After the early two runs, Dillon McCollough settled in on the mound allowing just three hits over the next four innings before running into trouble in the seventh inning. A series of three singles loaded the bases for FSC with one out where Jacob Teter drew a bases-loaded walk. Jarid Salisbury entered in relief and ended the Mocs threat with one pitch, coaxing a double play to end the inning.
- Conti, Hiott, and Calandra each hit two-out singles in the seventh to load the bases for Cochrane who ripped a ball through the left side for a late insurance run for EC.
- FSC plated a late run in the eighth inning as Zach Diewert scored on a groundout to shortstop.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Eckerd collected 14 hits. Conti led the way with three hits while Hiott, Calandra, Cochrane, Achuff, and Glover had two hits apiece. Glover led Eckerd with a career-high five RBIs while Arrivo added three RBIs.
- McCollough picked up his fifth win of the season throwing 6-1/3 innings allowing three runs while striking out nine. McCollough raised his career total to 329 strikeouts.
- Conti recorded his 40th career double, moving him into a tie for fifth place in program history. He also extended his hitting streak to 14 games and reached base streak to 18 games.
- Cochrane extended his reached base streak to 20 games.
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes the series with Florida Southern tomorrow with a doubleheader at 1:00 PM.
