ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team rallied late in both contests on Saturday afternoon for a split with Emmanuel (Ga.), taking the opener before falling in extra innings in the finale.
In the opener, Eckerd took an early 2-0 lead from a
Skylar Redish two-run homerun but the Lions quickly regained the lead. The Tritons offense then erupted taking the leading the sixth inning after four runs.
Eckerd again took the lead only to see it quickly disappear in the finale. However, the Tritons rallied in the seventh to tie the game and force extra innings where Eckerd ultimately fell, 5-4.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Eckerd 6, Emmanuel 5
WP: Costa (1-1)
LP: Abell (5-4)
HR: Redish (4), Parks (5), White (2)
Game Two
Final: Emmanuel 5, Eckerd 4
WP: Hopper (3-2)
LP: Saltzman (1-2)
Sv: Long (1)
HR: Parks (6), White (3)
Records: Eckerd 10-13; Emmanuel 8-9
KEY MOMENTS
Game One
- Eckerd jumped out to an early lead following a two-run homerun blasted to centerfield by Skylar Redish in the opening frame.
- Caitlin Parks quickly closed the gap for the Lions with a solo homerun to left to lead off the next inning.
- The Lions tied the game in the third inning as Isabelle Petty reached on an error to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pitch.
- Emmanuel took the lead in the fourth following a leadoff homerun by Ryanee White. The Lions tacked on another two runs in the sixth following an RBI single and a run scored off a fielder's choice.
- After the two runs in the opening frame, the Eckerd bats went quiet with just two hits over the following four innings before the offensive eruption in the sixth inning.
- Kassy Torres led off the sixth with a single through the left side while Kaylin Kramer drew a 10-pitch walk. Ally Costa then ripped a single up the middle to score Torres. Jessica Wilson drew a walk three batters later loading the bases for the Tritons where Hannah Famiano beat out an infield single to second to keep the Tritons' rally alive while scoring Kramer. With the bases still loaded, Nikole Van Gennep lifted a ball into shallow centerfield driving in the tying and go-ahead runs.
- Costa allowed a walk in the seventh but got a pair of groundouts to seal the win.
Game Two
- Both teams' offenses were quiet through the first four innings as the game remained scoreless. Eckerd did threaten in the first inning loading the bases after Famiano reached on an error before Redish and Torres both were hit by a pitch; however, the Tritons were unable to push a run across.
- Madison Saltzman kept the Lions off balance for the first five innings allowing just one hit until the sixth.
- The Tritons finally broke through in the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Wilson led off the inning with a bunt single while using aggressive baserunning to advance to third on a Torres sacrifice bunt. Van Gennep followed with an RBI single to right center.
- The Lions quickly took the lead via a Parks two-run homerun in the next inning while White gave Emmanuel a 3-1 lead in the seventh with a solo homerun.
- The Tritons rallied yet again with two runs in the seventh to force extra innings. Eckerd loaded the bases with no outs as Meredith McGinnis reached on an error and Wilson and Famiano both reached on singles. Van Gennep brought in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center. Redish hit a fielder's choice to short for the first out and Emmanuel attempted the double play to first but the throw went errant allowing Wilson to score the tying run.
- Emmanuel took a 5-3 lead in the seventh following a pair of RBI singles.
- Eckerd nearly rallied again to tie it in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Olivia Oppeltz was hit by a pitch before Kayelee Newstrom singled to start the Tritons rally. Wilson smacked an RBI single to center to bring the Tritons within a run. Eckerd caught an unlucky break to end the game when Famiano hit a chopper to second base that looked to squeak through but Wilson was called out for interference after running into the second baseman.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Van Gennep and Redish led Eckerd in the opener with two RBIs each while Wilson collected three hits as Van Gennep collected another two RBIs in the finale.
- With hits in both games, Van Gennep extends her hitting streak to seven games.
- Costa picked up her first win of the season in the opener after throwing the final two innings. Saltzman picked up the loss in the finale allowing five runs over eight innings.
- Four of Eckerd's last six games have gone into extra innings. Eckerd is 2-2 in those games.
UP NEXT
Eckerd continues its 13-game home stretch with a doubleheader Wednesday at 5:00 PM with Southwest Minnesota State.
