ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Despite two rain delays, the Eckerd softball team battled through a soggy night at the Turley Athletic Complex to beat Barry 6-2 in the Friday night opener of the three-game series with the Buccaneers as the Tritons opened up conference play.
Ally Costa and
Lauren Margolis hit back-to-back RBI singles in the second inning and an RBI double from
Skylar Redish highlighted a four-hit third inning to put the Tritons up 4-0 early. The Tritons then added a pair of runs late to secure the win.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 6, Barry 2
WP: Saltzman (1-0)
LP: Johnson (4-3)
Records: Eckerd 4-3 (1-0 SSC); Barry 7-6 (0-1 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- In the bottom of the second inning, Jessica Wilson laid down a sacrifice bunt to third base to advance both Kayelee Newstrom and Hannah Famiano into scoring position. Costa followed quickly, ripping a ball back at the pitcher to drive in Famiano. With runners on the corners, Margolis singled through the right side to drive in Newstrom for the second run.
- In the next frame, River Glenn singled to center field and then stole second to advance into scoring position. Redish crushed a ball to the right-center field fence for a double to plate Glenn and build EC's lead to 3-0. Famiano followed with a single to left field to move Redish to third base. Newstrom then reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop that scored Redish as the Tritons took a 4-0 lead.
- The Buccaneers got on the board following a Triton throwing error in the fifth inning. BU added another run two batters later as Cassandra Lee hit an RBI double to left field.
- In the fifth, Eckerd added an insurance run after Glenn came around to score on an attempted double steal with runners on the corners. Newstrom got caught in a run down and was eventually called out, but Glenn was able to score on the play.
- The Tritons drove in their final run in the sixth inning when Kaylin Kramer singled to right field and brought Costa around to score from second base.
- Barry threatened to rally in the seventh inning as they loaded the bases with one out following a walk and two singles, but Madison Saltzman coaxed a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Madison Saltzman picked up her first win of the season in just her second appearance this year. She fanned four batters while allowing two runs (both unearned) in the victory.
- Margolis and Famiano both picked up two hits and an RBI in tonight's win.
- Costa picked up another hit to extend her hitting streak to seven games. She currently has a .480/.536/.640 slash line through the first seven games.
QUOTABLE
"I'm very proud of Maddie [Saltzman]," said head coach
Katie Profitt. "I'm proud of the girls and their effort as they continued to fight throughout the entire game tonight."
UP NEXT
The Tritons continue their three-game series with Barry tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon.
