ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. – The Eckerd softball team rallied from an early one-run deficit Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning thanks to a two-run double by
Madison Saltzman. However, Eckerd ultimately dropped the series opener as Emmanuel (Ga.) completed its own rally with a run in the seventh to force extra innings before the Lions scored the go-ahead run in the eighth.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Emmanuel 3, Eckerd 2 (8 innings)
Records: Eckerd 9-12; Emmanuel 7-8
WP: Hopper (2-2)
LP: Van Gennep (6-7)
HR: Baxter (1)
KEY MOMENTS
- The Lions got on the board quickly after two straight singles to lead off the game. Emmanuel brought in a run on an RBI groundout by Caitlin Parks two batters later.
- Eckerd threatened early after loading the bases in the second inning off singles from Kassy Torres and Kayelee Newstrom followed by a walk drawn by Jessica Wilson but Eckerd was unable to push a run across.
- After the back-to-back singles to start the game, Nikole Van Gennep settled in allowing just one hit over the next five innings. She ran into a bit of trouble in the sixth after two batters reached with no outs, but was able to get a popup followed by a double play to end the threat.
- Eckerd took the lead in the sixth inning off Saltzman's two-run double. Van Gennep and Skylar Redish led off the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced to third on a Torres sacrifice bunt before Saltzman roped the two-run double down the left field line.
- Emmanuel quickly evened the score in the seventh inning on a solo homerun to left field.
- The Tritons threatened to end the game in the seventh with two runners aboard after a single from Hannah Famiano and walk drawn by Van Gennep. However, Eckerd was unable to send the winning run across the plate.
- The Lions led off the extra frame with a Meredith Reece double. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
- Newstrom reached on an infield single in the bottom of the eighth but the Lions turned a double play to end the game.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Eckerd out hit Emmanuel, 10-5, as Van Gennep, Saltzman, and Newstrom each had two singles while Saltzman led the team with two RBIs.
- Van Gennep also drew two walks to reach base in all four plate appearances.
- Van Gennep took the loss allowing three runs over eight innings.
- Eckerd has gone to extra innings in three of the last four games.
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes the series with Emmanuel with a doubleheader Saturday at 12:00 PM.