Baseball opens series vs. USCB with two wins

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Eckerd Tritons baseball team opened a three-game series against the USC Beaufort Sand Sharks on Saturday, winning game one by a score of 12-2 and game two by a final of 5-0.

After a pair of scoreless frames to begin game one, the Tritons struck first with three runs in the bottom of the third. Joey Bazydlo brought in the first tally with an RBI groundout, and was followed by an error from the visitors to bring in the second. Luis Garrido singled through the left side of the infield to bring in the third score and make it a 3-0 contest.

Eckerd saw two more big innings follow, putting up a four-spot in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Another error by USCB accounted for the first two runs for the Tritons to begin the fourth, and Bazydlo notched his second run batted in with a sac fly to extend the lead to six. Christian Cabina's double in the left-center gap capped off the four-run frame.

In the fourth, a pair of wild pitches from the Sand Sharks were responsible for half the runs scored, while Corey Hodierne and Kam Gelwick each collected run-scoring hits to stretch the differential out to 11 runs after five innings of play. Beaufort earned two of those back to stay out of run-rule territory, but Ean Gimson's RBI double in the bottom of the sixth helped the Tritons end the game early with a 12-2 final.

Grady Bivens improved to 9-0 on the mound and struck out eight in the win. Jake Ambrosio led the way offensively with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.

In game two, the Tritons struck early with a pair of runs in their opening at-bat, with the first coming in on a Sand Sharks passed ball. Gelwick's RBI groundout two batters later padded the cushion out to 2-0 after one for Eckerd. 

The two teams posted just one hit apiece over the course of the next four innings. The Tritons added to their advantage with three more in the sixth, starting off with Anthony Lino's two-run single down the line. Gimson brought in the third of the frame with an RBI fielder's choice. Eckerd worked around a pair of base runners in the ninth to keep the shutout in order.

The Tritons' pitching staff struck out 13 total batters in the win. Rocco Calise earned the victory in relief after punching out three in three innings. Max Folkman struck out four in the final two on the mound. Cabina finished the game with three hits at the plate.

Game three will take place tomorrow.