ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Triton offense started the game red-hot with six runs over the first three innings as the Eckerd baseball team won its Sunshine State Conference opener, 6-5, against Palm Beach Atlantic Friday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
In the second stanza, Michael Ballard brought in the Tritons' first run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Gunner Womer, who doubled. Jake Andriole scored in the inning on a Tyler Young ground out.
The Sailfish evened the score in the following frame on a two-run double. However, the Tritons responded in the bottom of the frame with four runs via a Sailfish error, wild pitch, Tyler Cox RBI single, and bases-loaded walk by Joe Wike.
PBA added two runs in the fourth before Jacob Stipp kept the Sailfish bats quiet over the next three innings. The Sailfish pulled within one run in the eighth on a solo homerun, but Cox shut the door in the ninth to seal the victory.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 6, Palm Beach Atlantic 5
WP: Stipp (2-2) LP: Adams (1-2) S: Cox (2) HR: Lanti
RECORDS: Eckerd 5-6 (1-0); Palm Beach Atlantic 6-6 (2-2 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Cox was the only Triton with a multi-hit game, collecting two hits.
- Mitch Donofrio, Andriole, and Ballard each drew two walks.
- EC was 6-for-6 on the night in stolen bases, led by Cox with two steals.
- Stipp earned his second win of the season, tossing six innings allowing three earned runs while striking out nine.
- Cox collected his second save, allowing just two hits over three innings.
- With a walk in the third inning, Donofrio extended his reached base streak to all 11 games this season and 18 straight games dating back to 2020.
UP NEXT
Eckerd and PBA conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow at noon.
