ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd softball team battled in an extra-inning nail-bitter with No. 4 Tampa in the opener, falling 8-2 in nine innings before dropping the finale 6-0 on senior day at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Tampa scored first in the opener with a run in the second frame. However, Eckerd equalized in the bottom of the frame on a bases-loaded infield single from Lex Difato. It was a pitcher's duel for the rest of the regulation, as neither team could push a run across.
Tampa loaded the bases in the eighth and scored on a passed ball. The Tritons responded again in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI double by Ashley Cain. The Spartans added six runs in the ninth on a pair of RBI singles while taking advantage of Triton errors to take the win.
In the rubber match, UTampa scored three runs over the first two innings for the early favor. The Spartans added another pair of runs in the fifth and one in the seventh for the win. Eckerd was limited to just three hits in the finale.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: No. 4 Tampa 8, Eckerd 2 (9 Innings)
WP: DeSimone (11-1) LP: Reymer (14-11)
Game Two
FINAL: No. 4 Tampa 6, Eckerd 0
WP: Galhouse (13-2) LP: Founds (4-4)
RECORDS: Eckerd 29-18 (15-12 SSC); No. 4 Tampa 38-7 (21-6 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes the regular season next weekend with a three-game series at Saint Leo, starting Friday at 6:00 PM.
