ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd softball team stunned the No. 4 North Georgia Nighthawks, sweeping a doubleheader 9-8 (9 Inn.) and 4-3 (10 Inn.) on a pair of walk-offs Thursday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Nighthawks opened the first game with a run in the opening frame as Olivia Sinquefield scored on a double steal, giving UNG a 1-0 lead. The Tritons immediately answered, tacking on two runs in the first on a two-RBI single by Kayla Hurley plating Jenice Casanas and Brenna Lokeinsky.
Both teams combined for three runs in the fifth inning. Hayley Cummings hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the first run, and Grace Mixson singled down the left field line to push Sinquefield home for a 3-2 lead. Skylar Redish tied the game with a solo homerun to dead centerfield in the bottom of the frame, 3-3.
Both teams exploded offensively in the sixth, scoring a combined eight runs. A pair of UNG doubles pushed two runs home, and a single by Sinequefield meant a third run for the Nighthawks, who took a 6-3 lead. EC stormed back, unleashing three singles by Megan Diaz, Lokeinsky, Casanas, and a second home run by Redish, this time a three-run blast to right center for a 7-6 lead. The Tritons added another run when Hannah Burge singled to shortstop, bringing home Hurley, extending their lead, 8-6.
UNG added two runs in the seventh to tie the game. EC walked it off in the ninth after Redish singled to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored off Hurley's single to third base for a 9-8 victory.
The second game was just as dramatic, with North Georgia taking a 1-0 lead as Madi Perry delivered an RBI single up the middle. Redish again played hero for the Tritons in the fourth: reaching on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on a passed ball and scoring on an error by UNG catcher Georgia Blair to tie the game, 1-1.
The Nighthawks added two runs in the sixth for a 3-1 lead. Hurley hit a solo home run to put the Tritons within one, 3-2, in the sixth. In the seventh, Hannah Burge bunted for a single and took advantage of a UNG error to score and tie the game 3-3.
Lokeinsky drew a walk to lead off the 10th. She advanced to second on Casanas' sacrifice bunt, and two batters later, Lauren Margolis hit a walk-off single down the right field line to push Lokeinsky home as the Tritons won, 4-3.
HOW IT ENDED
Game 1
Final: Eckerd 9, #4 North Georgia 8 (9 Inn.)
WP: Durrance (2-2) LP: Denton (6-2) HR: Reddish 2 (3)
Game 2
Final: Eckerd 4, #4 North Georgia 3 (10 Inn.)
WP: Perkins (2-3) LP: Heaberlin (5-2) HR: Hurley (1)
Records: Eckerd 4-5, #4 North Georgia 11-5
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Redish had five hits on the day with two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Hurley went 5-for-7 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and four walks across both games.
- EC scattered 23 hits over both games.
- The Tritons drew 13 walks over both games.
- Seven Tritons had multi-hit nights across both games: Redish (5), Hurley (5), Lokeinsky (3), Casanas (2), Diaz (2), Brooklyn Cardona (2), and Burge (2).
- Kensley Durrance earned her second win of the season, pitching all nine innings and striking out three in game one on 165 pitches.
- Hannah Perkins pitched all 10 innings in the second game, allowing just three runs and striking out seven for her second win of the year.
UP NEXT
The Tritons are on the road for a three-game series with Palm Beach Atlantic, with game one slated for Friday at 6:00 PM.
