Article:Eckerd Off To Rough Start



Brief post on the Eckerd baseball program here (more Eckerd content to come in the upcoming weeks):

Update: Through the first two weeks of the season, Eckerd finds itself in a hole, having lost five of its first six.

In the first game of Eckerd's season-opening doubleheader on February, 2, Eckerd wasted a strong outing on the hill from sophomore right-hander Adam Whitlow, who scattered four hits and an earned run over five strong innings, in a 7-2 loss to Warner Southern. Trailing by a run headed into the top of sixth, senior right-hander Tony Capoverdi, in relief of Whiltow, then allowed the Royals to break open the game, giving up four earned runs while only retiring one batter. Capoverdi, one of the Tritons' most dependable relievers in `07, was hit with the loss.

In game two, Eckerd fought back to earn a split, pounding out 14 hits on the way to a 10-4 victory. Matt Heller, Jarett Mackin and Wes Williams led the way for the Tritons' offense, each turning in multi-hit performances in the victory. Heller enjoyed perhaps the strongest afternoon, combining to go 3-for-6, including two hits in the night cap, with two runs scored and two RBIs for the day. Mackin, Eckerd's new leadoff hitter, finished the second game 2-for-3 with two runs scored an RBI. Williams made the difference, though, as he delivered in two clutch situations with runners in scoring position, picking up three RBIs.

Phil Weylie kept the Royals' lineup in check for most of the night, scattering eight hits and two earned runs while striking out three. The senior right-hander lasted six strong innings, before turning the ball over to Mike Sinicola, primarily a utility infielder, who shut the door on the win with a scoreless frame in the seventh.

The struggles then continued for Eckerd this past week, as the Tritons lost home games against Florida College and Saint Leo, and were swept in a doubleheader on the road at Webber International on Saturday.

Eckerd nearly pulled off an incredible comeback in Wednesday's 12-8 loss to St. Leo, putting together a five-run sixth inning. A poor defensive effort on the night (six Triton errors), however, enabled the Lions to put the game too far out of reach. Worth mentioning was the performance of designated hitter Tim Lorek, a sophomore transfer from Georgia State University. Lorek collected four hits in five at-bats, accounting for three of the Tritons' eight runs with a run scored and two RBIs, in the loss.

Eckerd will look to right the ship on Tuesday night, when they travel to Terrace Park in hopes of avenging a previous loss in a rematch with Florida College.