ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In similar fashion to Friday night's series opener, Saturday's doubleheader between Eckerd and Barry was just as thrilling as the teams traded leads throughout the day and combined for 42 runs at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Tritons took the win in the opener after coming from behind twice, including an eight-run seventh inning capped by a
Garrett Hiott grand slam while holding off a late Barry rally.
In the finale, Barry took an early lead only to see Eckerd even the score in the fourth. However, Barry jumped out ahead again and held off a late Triton rally.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Eckerd 15, Barry 13
WP: Durham (2-1)
LP: Arevalo (4-3)
Sv: Achuff (3)
HR: Conti (1), Hiott (3), Cabrera (2), Rapoza (3), Diaz (3), Alvarez (3)
Game Two
Final: Barry 8, Eckerd 6
WP: Rives (3-0)
LP: Lanzilli (2-2)
Sv: Casilla (8)
HR: Hiott (4), Glover 2 (5), Rapoza (4)
Records: Eckerd 19-12 (10-8 SSC); Barry 21-10 (10-8 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- Barry took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, scoring the opening run on a Triton error ahead of Chris Cabrera's three-run homerun down the left field line.
- Barry added another run in the second inning scoring on another Eckerd throwing error.
- A leadoff homerun in the first by Nick Conti closed the gap before Eckerd tied the game at 5-5 with a four-run second inning. Eckerd loaded the bases off singles from Chase Achuff and Justin Glover and a walk drawn by Nick Arrivo. Mitch Donofrio cleared the bases with a double down the left field line before Keith Leavitt, Jr. singled down the right field line to score Donorfio and tie the game.
- Achuff singled to right center in the third inning to score Mitch Calandra and put Eckerd ahead 6-5 while Donofrio followed with an RBI single up the middle for a two-run lead.
- The Bucs utilized a pair of two-run homeruns in the fifth by Ariel Diaz and Joel Alvarez to take a 9-7 lead.
- EC responded with a huge seventh inning scoring eight times to take a 15-9 lead. Garrett Hiott led off the inning drawing a walk before stealing second and was quickly sent home on a single to right from Calandra. The Tritons loaded the bases after Achuff reached on an error and an Arrivo single. Glover drove in the tying run with an infield single and Leavitt, Jr. gave Eckerd the lead with a two-run single up the middle. Conti followed with a single to load the bases again for the Tritons and set the table for Hiott. Hiott delivered with a no-doubt grand slam to right center to cap the inning.
- Barry cut into the Eckerd lead with a three-run homerun by Andrew Rapoza in the eight.
- The Buccaneers tacked on another run in the ninth on an RBI single and allowed the tying run to reach second with two outs but Achuff coaxed a groundout to seal the win.
Game Two
- A Rapoza three-run homerun in the opening frame gave Barry an early 3-0 lead.
- A Glover two-run homerun in the second inning pulled Eckerd within one run and the Tritons later tied the score in the fourth on a fielder's choice on an Arrivo grounder. Sam Cochrane and Achuff led off the inning with back-to-back doubles and Cochrane scored on the fielder's choice.
- The Bucs took the lead back in the fifth inning after an RBI single and a run scoring on a double play.
- Hiott pulled EC back within one with his second homerun of the day.
- Barry added to its lead with runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to build an 8-4 advantage.
- Glover pulled the Tritons within two in the eighth inning with his second homerun of the game, a two-run shot to right center.
- EC was able to get the leadoff runner on in the ninth via a single from Leavitt, Jr., but was unable to push a run across.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Seven Tritons recorded multiple hits in the opener. Achuff, Arrivo, and Glover led Eckerd in the finale with two hits each. Arrivo led the team with five hits over both games.
- Calandra and Achuff led the team in the series going 7-for-14 with four runs scored each while Arrivo also had six hits in the series. Hiott and Donofrio led the team with six RBIs each while Glover added five.
- Calandra's seven hits in the series (all singles) move his career singles to 182, sitting second place in program history.
- Kyle Durham took the win in the opener improving to 2-1 with 1.1 innings of relief work while Achuff earned his third save of the season.
- Eckerd's 18 hits in the opener were the most by the team this season.
- The two teams combined for 57 runs over the three-game series with Eckerd outscoring Barry, 29-28. Each game was decided by two runs or fewer.
- The Tritons have won the series over Barry each of the last three seasons.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action next weekend with a three-game series with Coker (S.C.) College with a doubleheader Saturday at noon.
