LAKELAND, Fla. - The Eckerd baseball team registered a season-high 22 hits and 13 runs, as the Tritons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back, tacking on 10 more runs along the way for a 13-7 win at Florida Southern on Friday night at Henley Field.
The Tritons opened the game, scoring three runs in the second inning on an RBI groundout by Tyler Young and a two-run homerun by Michael Ballard, his first of the season. Eckerd continued to add to its favor with an RBI single by Ballard in the fourth, and an RBI double by Jake Andriole. The Moccasins managed to push two runs across in the fourth inning, trimming EC's lead to 5-2.
Eckerd scored eight runs over the last four innings, beginning with an RBI double by Dimerson Nunez in the sixth. Andriole continued to drive the Tritons' offense as he cracked another extra-base hit with a two-RBI triple down the right-field line to extend EC's lead, 8-2. Mitch Donofrio added an RBI single to extend Eckerd's lead further, 9-2. FSC added two runs in the bottom of the frame on a fielder's choice and a groundout.
In the eighth inning, Danny Gutcher's sacrifice fly gave the Tritons a 10-4 lead. EC and FSC scored three runs apiece in the ninth inning. Donofrio hit a three-run homerun to extend EC's lead, 13-4. Despite adding three runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run triple and error, the Tritons would halt FSC's rally and picked up their 10th win of the season, 13-7.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 13, Florida Southern 7
WP: Stipp (3-4) LP: Liquori (0-1) HR: Donofrio (2), Ballard (1)
RECORDS: Eckerd 10-12 (4-3 SSC); Florida Southern 13-11 (4-3 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Three Tritons recorded three or more RBIs: Donofrio (4), Andriole (3), and Ballard (3).
- Eckerd had seven batters enjoy multi-hit performances at the plate: Tyler Cox (5), Andriole (3), Ballard (3), Gunner Womer (3), Nunez (2), Donofrio (2), and Gutcher (2).
- Cox's five hits are the most in a game since Mitch Calandra collected five hits against Nova Southeastern on April 19, 2019.
- Seven of EC's 22 hits were extra-base hits.
- Jacob Stipp earned his third win of the season, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing six hits, four earned runs, while striking out four.
- EC's 22 hits are a season-high. It was the most hits in a game since EC recorded 23 at Embry-Riddle on April 13, 2019.
- The Tritons' 13 runs mark the third time EC has tallied double-digit runs this season.
UP NEXT
The Tritons finish the series with a doubleheader at Florida Southern on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
