St. Petersburg, Fla.- Lynn University's softball team split a Sunshine State Conference double header with Eckerd on Friday afternoon. The Fighting Knights took game one 1-0 before falling 8-5 in the final game of the series. Lynn moves to 17-18 overall 4-8 in the SSC while Eckerd stands at 17-24 and 4-11 in conference play.
In the first game, Lynn scored it's only run on a throwing error by the Triton's catcher that sent Cydney Schmidt home from third base. Montgomery pitched five and two thirds of no-hit softball before a two-out bunt single gave the Tritons their first hit.
In the top off the fifth inning, a one-out single to left field by Schmidt placed a runner on for McNeill. McNeill reached on a throwing error by the Tritons third baseman and advanced to second, after a sacrifice bunt. A second consecutive throwing error by Eckerd would plate the only run of the game for Lynn's 1-0 lead.
Kristen Schurr led off the bottom of the seventh inning for the Tritons with a single to left field. Taylor Styke fouled off to Kochergen behind the plate for the first out of the inning. A single to left field from Amanda Green advanced Schurr to third base. McNeill fielded a bunt from Kirby Parnell and flipped the ball to Kochergen who made the play at home getting Schurr out for the second out, avoiding the game-tying run to score. A ground out would end the game with Lynn tying the series at one game a piece.
Four Knights recorded hits in the win while Schmidt scored the only run. Montgomery (7-7) allowed four hits in seven innings of work while striking out three Tritons en route to her seventh win of the season. Whitney Bernier got the loss in the circle for the Tritons allowing one run, unearned, on four Fighting Knights hits.
In the final game of the three-game series Lynn scored first on a RBI-single from Savulak with bases loaded. A four-pitch walk to Kochergen plated another Knights run before Vassallo hit a sacrifice fly to left center field. McNeill tagged at third and headed home for a 3-0 Knights lead.
After a leadoff walk by Chelsea Jeffares, a sacrifice bunt from Mitchell advanced her to second base. Kaycie Duncan singled up the middle to plate Jeffares for Eckerd to cut Lynn's lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third.
LU answered back in the top of the fifth with a lead off single to center field from Anne Marie Van Casteren. A sacrifice bunt from Carvatta advanced Van Casteren, who was knocked home by Jasmine Campos on a double to deep center field. An RBI infield single by McNeill plated the Knights fifth run.
The Tritons would not back down, as they scored seven runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 8-5 lead. Montgomery came in with one out in the inning to relieve Murray who went four and a third innings allowing eight earned runs on five hits while striking out three.
Lynn's offense was unable to make something happen in the final two innings, as Eckerd takes the series two games to one. The Fighting Knights travel to Nova Southeastern on Friday, April 5 for the first of a three-game set. First pitch is set for 6 pm. Fans can follow the action live at www.LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to follow @LUKnights on Twitter and Instagram for in-game updates.
