Tritons Complete Sweep Over Crimson Hawks

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - For the first time this season, the Eckerd baseball team completed a series sweep as the Tritons downed Indiana University of Pennsylvania 9-3 and 9-0 in the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Turley Athletic Complex.

Eckerd found themselves in a 2-0 hole to start the day. Dimi Nunez knocked one over the wall in right field to bring the Tritons within one. The Crimson Hawks tallied back with a home run of their own, gaining a three-run margin. IUP pushed up to a 7-2 lead in the sixth. 

Eckerd rallied back, with Jake Andriole hitting a two-run home run in the sixth. Andriole added another RBI in the seventh, scoring Tyler Cox. Cam Collier followed up with a two-run single to left center to tie the ballgame at seven. Kyle Ericson closed out the game by hitting a triple to right field. He also scored following an error on the play. Gil Colon collected the win on the mound, facing six batters through 1.1 innings. Ben Waxler earned the save to close the game in the ninth, striking out one batter.

The Tritons dominated the finale, shutting out IUP. The Tritons added five runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded, Kyle Abbott hit a three-run double to right field. Andriole and Joe Wike each added an RBI for the five-run jump. Gunnar Womer brought home Cox in the fourth with a single. Cox added an RBI in the fifth. A two-run base hit by Abbott in the fifth gave the Tritons their final tally of 9-0 in the  seven-inning game.

HOW IT ENDED 
Game One
FINAL: Eckerd 9, IUP 7
WP: Gil Colon (1-0) LP: Cooper Baxter (0-1) S: Ben Waxler (1) HR: Elijah Dunn (1), Dimi Nunez (1), Jake Andriole (1)

Game Two
FINAL: Eckerd 9, IUP 0 (7 Innings)
WP: Wil Stockman (1-1) LP: Jimmy Tooley (0-3)

RECORDS: Eckerd (10-6), IUP (3-9)

NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Rick Koch made his first career appearance on the mound for the Tritons in the finale, picking up his first career strikeout.
• Chris Sauer also made his first career appearance, tallying his first career hit and first career assist. 
• The Tritons bullpen struck out 27 batters over the three-game series and 16 on the day. 
• In the finale, the Tritons only allowed two hits. Wil Stockman collected the win with four strikeouts. 
• Kam Gelwick went a perfect 3-for-3 in the finale. 
• Kyle Abbott went 3-for-4 in the finale, with five RBIs in the game. He tallied six RBIs through the series.