SAINT LEO, Fla. - A combined 22-run game ended in the Tritons' favor, as the Eckerd baseball team defeated Saint Leo 12-10 on the road in a nonconference midweek matchup on Tuesday night.
After nearly two scoreless innings, Saint Leo leaped to a 2-0 favor in the third. The Tritons answered back in the fourth to tie, as Kyle Ericson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the first EC run before Joe Muzio hit a sacrifice fly to left field to even the score at 2-2. Eckerd secured the lead in the fifth when Cam Collier hit a three-run homer to left field, giving EC a 5-2 favor.
The Lions' counter efforts were strong but not quite enough to regain their lead. Collier's base hit in the seventh brought his RBI tally to four on the night and the Tritons' tally to 6-3. Muzio had a two-RBI base hit to right field, lengthening the lead to 8-3. Tyler Cox added a bases-loaded walk to give the Tritons a 9-3 advantage going into the stretch.
A two-RBI triple and another two-run base hit brought the Lions within one in the seventh. Another Eckerd run in the eighth by Joe Wike went unanswered by the Lions. In the ninth, Michael Ballard added his third homerun of the season for an 11-8 favor. Andriole had an RBI single to close out the Tritons' scoring for the night. The Lions put up another two runs in the ninth, but could not equalize as Eckerd came out triumphant with a 12-10 victory.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 12, Saint Leo 10
WP: Perry (2-2) LP: Booth (1-1) S: Colon (2) HR: Collier (4), Ballard (3)
RECORDS: Eckerd (15-10, 4-5 SSC), Saint Leo (15-13, 6-7 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Muzio's three RBIs set a season-high and tie his career-high from the Tritons' last midweek matchup with Saint Leo on April 5, 2022.
- Andriole went a perfect 5-for-5 on the night, followed by Collier, Abbott, and Ballard, who each went 3-for-5.
- Curtis Perry earned the win with two strikeouts.
- Abbott and Andriole scored four runs apiece.
- Eckerd's 19 hits tie their season-high.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns home this weekend to resume conference play against Florida Tech. The Tritons host the Panthers on Friday night at 6:00 PM at the Turley Athletic Complex, ahead of Saturday's doubleheader at 1:00 PM.
