ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team pounded 14 hits in a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle as the Tritons split the day, taking the first game, 8-0, in five innings and dropping the second, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex.
EC erupted offensively in the opener as they tacked on runs in each inning, leading to a four-run fourth inning to give the Tritons an 8-0 run-rule victory.
Kayelee Newstrom picked up three RBIs and
Kensley Durrance allowed only two hits in five innings in the Tritons' victory.
Embry-Riddle posted three runs in the first inning as they took an early lead over Eckerd.
Valerie Holguin crushed a solo homerun to left-centerfield in the sixth, but EC was unable to make up the deficit.
HOW IT ENDED
Game 1:
Final: Eckerd 8, Embry-Riddle 0 (5 innings)
WP: Kensley Durrance (5-7)
LP: Lisa Hop (3-1)
Game 2:
Final: Embry-Riddle 3, Eckerd 1
WP: Kelsi Collins (4-3)
LP: Hannah Perkins (2-5)
HR: Holguin (1)
Records: Eckerd 8-12 (5-7 SSC); Embry-Riddle 14-6 (7-2 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
Game 1
- The Tritons jumped on the board early in the first inning. With runners on the corners, Skylar Redish laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to first base as Ally Costa scored the first run for EC.
- With one out in the second inning, Costa singled to left-center and advanced to second on an attempt to throw out Jessica Wilson at third base. With Kaylin Kramer at the plate, she attempted to lay down a bunt for the suicide squeeze at home. Wilson got caught in a rundown on the play but avoided the tag to score. With one out, Lauren Margolis sent a ball to deep center field for a sacrifice fly that plated Costa as EC took a 3-0 edge.
- The Tritons added to their lead in the third with two runners on as Newstrom hit a sacrifice fly to left field to scored Holguin.
- Eckerd loaded the bases on a pair of walks and hit by pitch in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Newstrom singled up the middle, driving in two runs for the Tritons. Meredith McGinnis followed with a single into right field, plating Hannah Famiano. Wilson capped the four-run inning with an RBI single into left field, giving EC an 8-0 lead.
Game 2
- Embry-Riddle wasted no time gaining an edge in the first inning with three straight hits, with the third single scoring a run for the Eagles. With two outs, Savannah Brockenbrough hit a two-run single to center field.
- In the bottom of the sixth inning, Holguin led off the frame with a homerun pounded to left-center field as the Tritons put their only run on the board.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Costa and Famiano both had three hits on the day. Costa added two runs scored for EC.
- Newstrom drove in three RBI's in game one.
- Durrance allowed just two hits through five innings pitched in the opener while striking out two.
- Holguin's homerun in game two was the first of her career.
- Famiano swiped two bases in game one. Costa and Wilson also had a stolen base each on the day.
- The Tritons' victory in game one was head coach Katie Profitt's first career win over Embry-Riddle.
QUOTABLE
"The first game was awesome for us. I liked our aggressive mentality," said Profitt. "Kensley [Durrance] did well in the circle, and the defense was solid."
UP NEXT
The Tritons remain at home as they host Bloomsburg (Penn.) on Tuesday with a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 PM.
