COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Eckerd baseball team hung close with the nationally-ranked Cougars, ultimately dropping three games to No. 17 Columbus State (Ga.) by scores of 8-6, 5-3, and 3-2 on Saturday at Burger King Stadium.
Eckerd was originally scheduled for three single games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, due to a power outage on Friday night, the game was suspended in the eighth and completed on Saturday. Due to inclement weather predicted for Sunday, that game was moved to a seven-inning game after game two on Saturday.
Eckerd took a 3-0 lead over CSU through the fourth inning of game one Friday night. Michael Ballard delivered a two-run homerun in the opening frame before Joe Wike added a sacrifice fly in the fourth. However, the Cougars added five runs in the fifth for a 5-3 favor.
CSU added to its lead in the seventh with an RBI single. The Tritons rallied to even the score in the eighth on a Kam Gelwick bases-loaded walk and two runs scoring on Ballard's single.
The game was suspended at the bottom of the eighth. In the resumed game on Saturday, EC had a runner on third with one out in the ninth but was unable to capitalize as the Cougars took the game on a walk-off homerun.
CSU took a 5-0 lead with four runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth inning of game two. Eckerd rallied late with two runs in the seventh on Gunnar Womers RBI single and a run crossing on an error. Tyler Cox drove in a run in the eighth, but Eckerd was unable to complete the comeback.
The Tritons fell behind early in the finale as Columbus State added two runs in the second frame.
Eckerd evened the score in the fifth on a Wike RBI double and Gelwick's RBI single. However, the Cougars took a 3-2 edge in the sixth on an RBI single. EC threatened in the seventh with a runner in scoring position but was unable to push the run across.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: N0. 17 Columbus State 8, Eckerd 6
WP: Suppa (2-0) LP: Ramos (0-1) HR: Ballard (2), Johns 2 (4)
Game Two
FINAL: No. 17 Columbus State 5, Eckerd 3
WP: Joyner (5-2) LP: Stockman (2-2) S: Burton (3)
Game Three
FINAL: No. 17 Columbus State 3, Eckerd 2 (7 Innings)
WP: Brockman (4-0) LP: Perry (1-2) S: Burton (4) HR: Bouton (6)
RECORDS: Eckerd 14-10; Columbus State 24-6
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Cox led Eckerd in game one with three hits, while Gelwick, Ballard, Kyle Ericson, and Joe Muzio added multi-hit performances.
- Ballard added three RBIs in game one.
- Cox, Womer, and Muzio added an RBI each in game two.
- Gelwick and Wike added an RBI each in game three. Gelwick and Andriole led the team with two hits each.
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to Saint Leo on Tuesday for a non-conference contest at 6:00 PM.
