ALBANY, Ga. - The Eckerd baseball team split the doubleheader to take the opening series of the 2025 season 2-1 against Albany State (Ga.), winning game on 12-7 and falling in game two 7-6 (7 innings).
Eckerd College erupted for six runs in the ninth inning to secure a dominant 12-7 win over Albany State on Sunday. Kam Gelwick and Luis Garrido both homered, while Christian Cabina's three-run triple in the fifth helped fuel the Tritons' offense. Gelwick finished 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, while Coltin Pizzio and Cole Schumaker each drove in two.
On the mound, Nathan Norwood set the tone with five strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out six. The Tritons' bullpen faced some resistance in the later innings, but Nick Romagnola (1-0) shut the door with 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win. Eckerd's pitching staff only allowed five earned runs to take game one of the double-header 12-7.
In game two, Eckerd fell behind early, with the Golden Rams getting the 1-0 jump in the bottom of the first. An RBI double by Cole Schumaker tied it back at one before ASU regained the lead in the bottom of the second. A two-run homer by Kam Gelwick in the third gave the Tritons their first lead of the game, with Gelwick's RBI total growing to four on the day. Albany State retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the frame for a 6-3 advantage. A three-run sixth inning brought the Tritons back to tie, with a chance at the series sweep, but the Golden Rams walked the game off in the bottom of the seventh by a score of 7-6.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: Eckerd 12, Albany State 7
WP: Romagnola (1-0) LP: Addison (0-1) HR: Garrido (1), Gelwick (1)
Game Two
FINAL: Albany State 7, Eckerd 6
WP: Baker (1-0) LP: Funneman(0-1) HR: Gelwick (1)
Note: the box score incorrectly lists the winning and losing pitchers
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-1; Albany State 1-2
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Gelwick led the Tritons with two home runs and four RBIs on the day. Cabina also had four RBIs on the day.
- Gelwick hit 4-for-9 on the day.
- Schumaker had five RBIs in the series on four hits.
- Pizzio had three RBIs in his Triton debut series.
- Eckerd's bullpen combined for 28 strikeouts through the three games.
UP NEXT
Eckerd remains on the road next weekend, as they travel back to Georgia to face Georgia College Friday night at 6:00 PM for the first of a three-game series.
