ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - The Eckerd baseball team held an early lead but fell in its first Sunshine State Conference contest on Friday night to Florida Southern 8-4 at the Turley Athletic Complex.
The Tritons struck early, registering three runs in the first after a no-hit top of the inning. Tyler Cox hit a grounder up the middle for an RBI with the Tritons leading 1-0. Kyle Ericsson reached on a throwing error by the pitcher Nate Madej on a sacrifice bunt, and Michael Ballard and Cox scored on the play for a 3-0 Triton lead.
The Mocs answered back in the second when former Triton Mitch Donofrio scored on a wild pitch. Florida Southern tied it up in the third with a two-run homer by Conner Berry. El'Rico Riley singled to left field for the go-ahead RBI. Jeff Liquori hit another two-run homerun in the eighth for the Mocs. Rosean Riley and Berry added to the Mocs lead with another two RBIs to bring their tally to eight runs.
Eckerd tried to equalize in the ninth. After being hit by a pitch, Joe Wike advanced twice on wild pitches by Justin Stewart. Kyle Abbott singled up the middle to bring Wike home, shortening the deficit to four. The late run was not enough, with the Tritons falling 8-4 in the game as they look to bounce back tomorrow.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 4, Florida Southern 8
WP: Madej (2-0) LP: Jacob Stipp (0-1) S: Wit (1) HR: Berry (1), Liquori (1)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- The Tritons reached nine hits on the night, with Abbott and Ballard each with three.
- Cox registered two hits on the night, going 2-for-3, and was walked twice.
- Jacob Stipp struck out six batters through six innings of work. The Triton bullpen combined for nine strikeouts on the night.
UP NEXT
The Tritons are at home for the doubleheader of their three-game series tomorrow at 1:00 PM against the Moccasins.
