St. Petersburg, Fla. – Backed by a strong performance on the mound by Shawn Kale, Lynn University's baseball team downed Eckerd 5-2 in the series opener Friday night. Kale tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts while holding the Tritons to two runs while every Fighting Knight starter logged a hit. Lynn improves to 25-11 overall and 9-4 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Eckerd (15-21, 3-13 SSC) was able to grab a 1-0 lead in the first after a pick-off attempt went awry, allowing Alex Del Monte to score from first. The Tritons then padded their lead in the second with a RBI single from Dan Capra.
Kale (4-0) fanned two batters in the first, second and third innings en route to 11 K's in seven innings of work. He allowed eight hits and two runs, of which one was earned.
Lynn cut its deficit in half in the fifth when Jason Matusik ripped a two-out double into the right center field gap. Kyle Radzewski easily scored from second but Anthony Boza was tripped up rounding third and thrown out at home. The Knights had another chance to tie it in the sixth but EC center fielder Bryant Gibson logged his second outfield assist with a perfect throw to the plate.
Radzewski keyed the Blue & White rally in the seventh, opening the frame with a sound base hit off Tritons' starter Joey Cuda's shin and reaching second on an errant throw by Eckerd's third baseman. Two batters later Mike Diorio tied the game at two with a RBI single up the middle. A pair of walks loaded the bases for Herrera.
Already with a grand slam on his resume this season, the senior third baseman ripped the second offering from Cuda over the fence in left field but just left of the foul pole. Although he missed on the home run, he was able to bring home the winning run by getting hit for the second time.
Alex Bello followed immediately by turning on a fastball over the plate from reliever Robbie Nabers and sending it into the right center gap, plating two runs to put LU on top 5-2.
Joe Perrotta and Andre Colon teamed up in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the contest. Each reliever fanned two batters, giving Lynn 15 strikeouts in the game. Colon picked up his team-leading fourth save.
Diorio went 3-for-5 with a run, RBI and stolen base while Matusik, Radzewski and Bello each went 2-for-4.
The Fighting Knights look to take the series against Eckerd on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Fans can follow the game at LynnFightingKnights.com by selecting the Game Central icon or watch the game live at EckerdTritons.com.
