WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Triton baseball team hung close with the No. 11 Tars, with EC holding a two-run lead in the fifth. However, Rollins added a four-run sixth, and Eckerd was unable to close the gap, falling 9-8 at Alfond Stadium on Thursday evening.
Eckerd had a strong showing to begin the contest, with four runs in the first. Jake Andriole hit a two-run single to center field for the first two Triton runs, followed by a two-RBI single by Joe Muzio for the 4-0 favor. Rollins notched their first tally in the opening frame as well, 4-1. Cam Collier hit the first of five homeruns for the day in the third, lifting Eckerd to a 6-1 favor. Rollins chipped away in the fourth, adding another three runs to put the Tars within two.
Andriole homered to right field in the fifth that was countered with a homerun by the Tars in the bottom of the frame, with Eckerd still leading 7-5. The Tars took their first lead of the game in the sixth, scoring on a single and a three-run homer. Down by two in the top of the ninth, Michael Ballard homered to right field, bringing the Tritons within one. However, Eckerd flied out in three straight at-bats, unable to close the gap falling 9-8.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 11 Rollins 9, Eckerd 8
WP: Mills (1-0) LP: Grubbs (2-1) S: Stonefrisina (3) HR: Collier (5), Andriole (3), Torres, Smith, Ballard (5)
RECORDS: Eckerd (16-13, 5-8 SSC), No. 11 Rollins (23-9, 13-3 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Andriole and Ballard each went 3-for-5, Andriole with three RBIs.
- Collier and Muzio each had two RBIs on the night.
- Ben Waxler was effective in relief, allowing no hits and striking out one batter through 1.2 innings of work.
- Collier and Ballard both moved their season homerun total to five, Ballard tying his career-high set last season.
- Ballard moved his season total to 56 hits.
UP NEXT
Eckerd continues the three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow. The Tritons face the Tars for game one at 12:00 PM at Alfond Stadium.
