ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After giving up five early runs, the Eckerd softball team rallied to take the lead in the fifth inning, but the Panthers ultimately responded to win the opener, 9-6. However, Eckerd bounced back to take the second game, 3-0, thanks to a two-run homerun by Brenna Lokeinsky and nearly flawless effort in the circle by Hannah Perkins to split the doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Florida Tech tacked on five runs in the first frame on a fields choice, double steal, and a three-run homerun by Jolie Miracle.
Eckerd chipped away at the Panthers' lead over the next five innings. Lauren Margolis plated a run in the first with an RBI double, and Lokeinsky and Jenice Casanas delivered a pair of RBI singles in the second. Casanas pulled EC within one run in the fourth with another RBI single before Sara Soterakis put the Tritons up, 6-5, with a two-run homer to left center in the fifth.
The Panthers regained the lead in the sixth with a two-run homerun while adding a pair of insurance runs in the seventh to take the opener.
Lokeinsky put EC ahead early in the finale with a two-run homerun in the third inning. Meanwhile, Perkins spun a gem in the circle, remaining perfect over five and one-third innings. She allowed a pair of singles in the sixth but kept the Panthers off the board.
Brooklyn Cardona gave the Tritons an insurance run in the sixth with a double. FIT looked to score in the ninth, but EC coaxed a double play to end the game.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
Final: Florida Tech 9, Eckerd 6
WP: Rivers (4-2) LP:Benefield (0-1) S: Hendrian (4) HR: Miracle (2), Lewin (4), Soterakis (1)
Game Two
Final: Eckerd 3, Florida Tech 0
WP: Perkins (4-5) LP: Hendrian (6-3) HR: Lokeinsky (1)
Records: Eckerd 7-8 (3-6 SSC); Florida Tech 17-8 (5-4 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Casanas went 4-for-4 with two RBIs in the opener.
- Lokeinsky and Cardona each recorded two hits in the finale.
- Both Lokeinsky and Soterakis' homeruns were the first of their careers.
- Perkins pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out four. She also didn't issue a walk. She collected her fifth win of the season while lowering her ERA to 1.97.
- Brielle Benefield tossed six innings in relief in the opener.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action on Wednesday at The Spring Games in Clermont, facing American International (Mass.) at 2:30 PM and Bloomfield (NJ) at 4:45 PM.
