ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After nearly closing the game in run rule, and then falling behind in the top of the ninth, the Eckerd baseball team rallied to send the game into extras against American International College (Mass.), falling 17-16 at the Turley Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.
Eckerd fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first before vaulting into a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the frame. An RBI double from Dylan Escobar broke the game open for Eckerd, before an RBI single by Cole Schumaker made it 2-1. Coltin Pizzio and Luis Garrido added insurance runs in the frame. An RBI single by Christian Cabina in the third added the Triton lead before the Yellowjackets were able to get back on the board in the fourth. The Tritons broke open the game even further in the bottom of the frame, adding three more runs.Â
AIC added four runs in the fifth bringing the Yellowjackets within two. Eckerd countered with three more in the fifth a bases loaded, hit by pitch for Reid Lisle and a two run sacrifice fly by Zade Stark brought Eckerd to an eight run lead.
The Yellowjackets swarmed in the seventh inning, knotting the score at 14 with eight runs. The Yellowjackets had four RBI singles and one two-run single to close the gap completely. AIC took their first lead since the first inning in the top of the ninth on an error by the Triton pitcher. Now trailing by two, Eckerd was determined to send the game to extras. Cabina picked up his third RBI of the day as well as Escobar's second to send the game to extra innings. AIC was able to score in the top of the frame. With runners on the corners, Eckerd was unable to score, falling 17 to 16.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: AIC (Mass.) 17, Eckerd 16
WP: Roca (2-0)Â LP: Schumaker (0-1)
RECORDS: Eckerd 4-18 (1-5 SSC); AIC (Mass.) 5-4
NOTES AND NUMBERS
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Escobar went 4-for-5 from the plate, his four hits a career high.Â
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Stark and Cabina led with three RBIs apiece.Â
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Luis Garrido and Kam Gelwick were both walked twice.Â
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Eckerd had five extra-base hits.Â
UP NEXTÂ
Eckerd will face American International College again tomorrow at 6:00 PM at the Turley Athletic Complex.