ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Lynn University baseball team mounted a late comeback effort Friday night, scoring three runs in the ninth inning, but Eckerd held on to claim a 10-4 victory in the Sunshine State Conference series opener. The Fighting Knights finished with 10 hits on the evening, highlighted by a three-hit performance from Jason Lashley, while Lynn attempted to chip away at an early Tritons lead before falling in the series' first contest.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Fighting Knights were retired in order in the opening frame before stranding two Eckerd runners in the bottom half to keep the game scoreless early
- Lynn threatened in the second as back-to-back singles from Jason Lashley and Joel Tapia-Melo along with a walk to Amaris Harrison loaded the bases, but the Tritons escaped the jam with three straight outs
- Eckerd broke the game open in the bottom of the second, using four hits, a Lynn error and a pair of unearned runs to plate seven runs and take a 7-0 lead
- The Tritons added another run in the fourth on an RBI groundout to extend the advantage to 8-0
- Despite putting multiple runners on base through the middle innings, the Fighting Knights were unable to capitalize as Eckerd pitching worked out of several jams
- Eckerd added two more runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and RBI single to push the lead to 10-0
- Lynn broke through in the seventh when Harrison doubled to left center to bring home Lashley for the Fighting Knights' first run of the evening
- The Fighting Knights mounted a late rally in the ninth as Ivan Herrera and Jackson Tyer each delivered RBI singles before Justin Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run
- The comeback effort brought Lynn within 10-4, but Eckerd was able to close out the contest and secure the Friday night victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Lashley led the Lynn offense with a 3-for-4 performance, scoring two runs, drawing one walk, and adding a double and stolen base
- Justin Lopez finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a walk, collecting one of Lynn's 10 hits in the contest
- Harrison delivered Lynn's first run of the game with an RBI double in the seventh inning while also drawing two walks
- Herrera added an RBI single during the Fighting Knights' ninth-inning rally
- Tyer also drove in a run with an RBI single in the ninth and reached base twice with a hit and a walk
- Kai Hutchins and Tapia-Melo each recorded a hit as Lynn finished with 10 total hits on the evening
- On the mound, Charlie Houd tossed two scoreless innings in relief while striking out one to close the game for the Fighting Knights
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights are back in action on Saturday for the series-closing doubleheader at Eckerd with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.