Tritons Drop Series to Lions in Extra Innings Heartbreaker

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After dropping game one of the twinbill 8-7, the Eckerd baseball team dropped the rubber match in an extra-innings heartbreaker 3-2 (14 innings) to Saint Leo at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

A homerun to right field in the second inning by the Lions opened the scoring in the day's opener. Kyle Abbott scored on a wild pitch in the same inning to even the tally. The Lions added another homerun in the third to regain their lead, 2-1.

The Tritons rack up six more runs over the next three innings to take a 7-2 advantage. Cam Collier doubled down the left field line to knot the score back at two in the third. Kam Gelwick hit an RBI single to third base for the Tritons' first lead of the contest in the fourth. Eckerd added four runs in the fifth, with RBI singles from Abbott, Joe Muzio, and Joe Wike.

The five-run lead was not comfortable enough for the Tritons, as the Lions clawed back to tie at seven in the sixth inning. A run scored on a balk in the seventh would end up being the deciding run as the Tritons fell 8-7.

Saint Leo was first on the board in the finale, scoring on a wild pitch in the first frame. Despite giving up the early run, Brendan Lawry spun a gem on the mound keeping the Lions off the board over the next six innings, while carrying a no-hitter through seven innings. 

A sacrifice fly by Abbott brought home Jake Fajardo in the third to tie the score at 1-1. Joe Wike had an RBI single in the fourth for the Tritons' first edge of the game. Holding on to the one-run lead for three and a half innings, the Lions equalized late in the eighth with a run scoring on an error that sent the game to extra innings. 

Curtis Perry threw two perfect innings in extras to fend off the Lions, but in the top of the 14th, the Lions took the lead, scoring on two errors. In the bottom of the 14th, Muzio was walked, and Gelwick came in to pinch run and stole second to move into scoring position. Abbott was walked, and Gelwick advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, Tyler Cox flew out to deep right field for the Tritons to fall 3-2.  

HOW IT ENDED 
Game One
FINAL: Saint Leo 8, Eckerd 7
WP: Lashutka (2-0)  LP: Grubbs (2-3)  HR: Roa (5); Miles (1)

Game Two
FINAL: Saint Leo 3, Eckerd 2 (14 Inn.)
WP: Gallagher (2-0) LP: Perry (2-3)

RECORDS: Eckerd (18-20, 6-15 SSC), Saint Leo (24-17, 12-9 SSC)

NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Brendan Lawry dished out a season-high six strikeouts in the finale. He carried a no-hitter through seven innings. 
• Curtis Perry had a career-tying four strikeouts. 
• Wike, Ericsson, and Abbott each went 2-for-4 in game one. 
• Wike and Abbott each had two RBIs on the day. 
• The Tritons' bullpen combined for 20 strikeouts on the day. 
• Eckerd racked up 32 hits in the series.

UP NEXT 
The Tritons host their final midweek matchup against Valdosta State (Ga.) on Tuesday at the Turley Athletic Complex at 5:00 PM.