FORT MYERS, Fla. – The first loss of the season turned out to be hardly more than a speed bump for the Edgewood College baseball team. After a day off for a community service project, the Eagles racked up 13 hits and defeated Skidmore College 8-6. The Eagles improved their record to 6-1 on the season.
The Eagles opened the game with a three runs in the first inning. Jonathan Roehler doubled to bring home Jeff Tucker who started the game with a leadoff walk. Then Nick Lehner delivered his first home run of the season, to put Edgewood College ahead 3-0. The Eagles tacked on a run in the third inning, and another in the fourth, taking advantage of two Skidmore College (3-3) errors.
Meanwhile, Edgewood College starting pitcher Adam Eck was red hot. Eck struck out the first five batters he faced, on his way to matching a career-high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. Skidmore did bounce back with a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings, to cut the Eagles lead to 5-4 through four innings.
Tucker smacked a one-out triple in the sixth inning and scored on an RBI single by Roehler. Garrett Bogucki followed with a double to bring home Roehler all the way from first base, and put Edgewood College ahead 7-4. However, Skidmore scored in the sixth and seventh to cut the Eagles lead to one run at 7-6. Tim Nunn gave the Eagles a little breathing room with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, his second of the season.
Skidmore put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Danny Appino came in from left field to relieve Alex Meister. Appino struck out the first hitter and faced and got the second batter to pop up to end the game. It was Appino's second save of the season.
Roehler continued his season opening tear, going 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. Roehler is hitting .440 with 10 runs batted in through seven games. Tucker and Nunn each had two hits, with Tucker recording the Eagles first triple of the season and Nunn a home run. Alex Fowler continued to bolster the bottom of the lineup, going 2-for-4.
Eck struck out 11 batters and allowed six earned runs in seven inning pitched. Meister didn't allow a run in 1.1 winnings, before Appino shut the door on the Thoroughbreds.
Edgewood College has two games remaining before leaving the Sunshine State. The Eagles will face Augustana College (Ill.) (9-1) on Friday and UW-Stout (3-7) on Saturday.
