ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd softball team erupted for 16 runs on the day, sweeping the doubleheader over the New College of Florida 8-0 and 8-5, at the Turley Athletic Complex on Thursday night.
Eckerd struck early in the opener with a pair of runs in the second inning as Kinsley Castro delivered a squeeze bunt for the first run, followed by a Gracie Ciccarello RBI double. Ella Coiner delivered a two-run homerun in the third to make it a 4-0 lead. The Tritons erupted for four runs in the fourth via a Ciccarello RBI single, Lex Difato's two-run single, and a sacrifice fly by Abby Lucas as Eckerd run-ruled the Banyans.
NCF scored first in the second game with a run in the first frame. However, Eckerd equalized in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly from Lucas. The Tritons took a 3-1 favor with a Difato RBI single in the second and Lucas RBI single in the third.
New College took advantage of four Triton errors in the fourth frame to tack on three runs for a 4-3 tilt. They added another insurance run in the fifth for a two-run lead.
The Tritons rallied in the sixth for five runs, all with two outs, as Difato delivered a bunt single to pull EC within one before Hannah Taylor gave Eckerd the lead with a two-run single. Coiner capped the rally with a two-run blast to center field.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: Eckerd 8, New College 0 (5 Innings)
WP: Reymer (1-1) LP: Totten (0-1) HR: Coiner (1)
Game Two
FINAL: Eckerd 8, New College 5
WP: Heter (2-0) LP: Balgrade (0-1) HR: Coiner (2)
RECORDS: Eckerd 3-1; New College 4-4
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Brandliyn Reymer earned the win in the opener, allowing three hits and no runs while striking out six.
- Julia Heter earned the win in the finale, tossing three relief innings and allowing just one run with four strikeouts.
- Reese Founds struck out six over four innings in game two.
- Eckerd was aggressive on the bases, going 11-for-12 on stolen bases. Difato led the team with five on the day.
- Difato went 5-for-7 with four RBIs on the day.
- Coiner added four RBIs over the doubleheader with a pair of homeruns. Lucas added three RBIs.
- Ava Planeta cut down a pair of runners on the base paths attempting to steal.
UP NEXT
Eckerd hits the road on Saturday with a doubleheader at USC Beaufort.
