MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- The Eckerd Tritons baseball team took the opening game of a three-game series on Friday, defeating the Barry Buccaneers by a score of 9-7.
Eckerd pushed across one in its opening at-bat, using a two-out double from
Kam Gelwick to bring in
Corey Hodierne, who reached base via an infield single. Barry answered with a three-spot in the bottom half on three hits and took a 3-1 lead into the second.Â
The Tritons did not take long to regain the lead, plating four in the second to move back in front by a score of 5-3.
Luis Garrido opened the frame with a leadoff double, but the Bucs retired the next two batters to leave him at second for the time being. Following a walk and hit batter that loaded the bases, Hodierne punched a hit through the right side to bring in a pair of runs to even the score.
Hunter Rebhan quickly changed the score in the Tritons' favor with a two-run double during the ensuing at-bat.Â
The 5-3 lead for Eckerd remained intact through the fifth, and the Bucs tallied one to inch closer in the bottom of the sixth.
Joey Bazydlo earned the run right back with a leadoff home run to begin the seventh, sparking a three-run frame for the Tritons.
Christian Cabina produced the final two runs of the inning with a two-out single. Barry secured a single run in the bottom half to make it an 8-5 game after seven complete.
Hodierne collected his third RBI of the night with a sac fly in the eighth to extend the lead to 9-5 for Eckerd. Barry threatened in the bottom of the ninth and sent the go-ahead run to the plate, but
Rocco Calise forced a foul out to end the game.
Grady Bivens improved to 7-0 on the mound, while Calise picked up his second save of the season. Each team posted 11 hits, with Garrido, Gelwick, Hodierne, and
Ean Gimson all collecting two apiece.
The Tritons secure win No. 20 on the season, already doubling last year's win total
Games two and three will take place tomorrow.
