DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Eckerd Tritons softball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half to steal game one against the Embry-Riddle Eagles by a score of 5-4.
Ella Coiner drove in the game's first run for Eckerd in the top of the first inning, bringing in
Lex Difato who was safe on a play at the plate after a batted ball in the infield. The Eagles responded with four in the bottom half, using an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game before a bases-clearing triple moved the score out to 4-1.
Both pitchers settled in and the two teams played to four scoreless innings to keep the 4-1 score intact entering the sixth. Eckerd an Embry-Riddle combined for just four hits during that four-inning span, three of which were singles. The Tritons got one back in the sixth after
Faith Wharton's RBI groundout brought home Difato, who walked to begin the inning. A three-up, three-down frame for
Brandilyn Reymer kept Eckerd within two entering the final at-bat.
In a wild seventh inning, the Tritons saw a leadoff single from
Kaili Cannon start the rally. Consecutive strikeouts followed, but two straight miscues from the Eagles extended the inning and brought Eckerd closer at 4-3.
Hannah Taylor continued the momentum with a single to load the bases, setting up a lengthy battle at the plate that resulted in a two-run single from Coiner to take the lead for the Tritons. Embry-Riddle loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Reymer collected a strikeout and forced a groundout to end the game.
Taylor, Coiner, and Difato combined for six of the team's seven hits, while Coiner drove in three runs to lead the team. Reymer punched out nine batters on the mound.
Games two and three will be played tomorrow.
