DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - It was a tough day for the Embry-Riddle baseball team on Saturday as the Eagles dropped a heartbreaking 8-7 decision to Eckerd to start the day before the Tritons won an offensive battle in the series finale, 12-8, claiming the weekend series and sending ERAU to its fourth consecutive SSC series loss. ERAU (22-23, 9-18 SSC), saw a 7-1 lead evaporate with just four outs to get in the first game and then the Tritons (20-22, 8-16 SSC) pounded out 19 hits to outpace the Blue and Gold in the finale, despite the Eagles collecting 15 hits of their own.

The Eagles take next weekend off before concluding the 2023 season by hosting Rollins May 11-13 at Sliwa Stadium.

Game 1 • Eckerd 8, ERAU 7
The Eagles had the chance to secure a series win following Friday night's 6-0 victory as they held a 7-1 lead over the Tritons with two outs in the eighth, but the visitors scored three runs with two outs in that inning before shocking the hosts with a four-run ninth, tying the series at one game apiece.

Connor Dunnam was just as good for nearly his entire outing as Dillon Moran was the night before, holding the Tritons to just one run on four hits heading into the top of the eighth inning, but with a man at first and two outs Dunnam couldn't get out of the frame, surrendering three consecutive hits as EC struck for three runs, getting within 7-4 before Gunnar Harrison got the final out of the frame.

After the Eagles did nothing in the bottom of the eighth inning Harrison began the ninth by issuing a walk and then a base hit to put two men on. Joe Balsam entered and after walking the first batter he faced to load the bases, got a shallow fly ball to left for the first out. Tyler Cox, who would be a thorn in ERAU's side all day long, hit a double down the left field line, plating two to get Eckerd within a run.

Spencer Marinac was called upon to try and put out the fire, but a double scored two more and all of a sudden the Tritons had an 8-7 lead. Marinac did get out of the inning without any further runs, but the damage was done.

ERAU threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Garrett Bogart hit a one-out single, but his pinch runner Elias Campbell was thrown out trying to steal second base for the second out of the inning. After Josh Reynolds was hit by a pitch Robert Post flew out ot deep center for the final out of the contest.

Embry-Riddle built its lead with two runs each in the second, fourth and sixth frames, followed by a lone run in the seventh.

Dylan Brazil and Timo Aracena collected RBIs in the second, and Brazil and Matthew Coker got RBIs in the fourth for a 4-1 lead.

Post doubled in Reynolds and later scored in the sixth when Camden Traficante singled him home, and ERAU's final run came on an RBI groundout from Reynolds in the seventh as Kevin Vittoria touched home plate.

Post finished 3-for-5 while Reynolds was 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored.

Balsam (2-3) took the loss in 0.1 inning, while Dunnam finished with 7.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with four Ks.

Game 2 • Eckerd 12, ERAU 8
The Tritons sprinted out to a 9-3 lead in the fourth inning before the Eagles got to within one run in the sixth, but Eckerd scored three insurance runs over the final three frames while ERAU came up empty.

Tyler Stufano (6-5) lasted just two innings, while a total of five Eagle pitchers saw action on the mound, all but Brock Chance allowing at least two runs to score.

AJ Marinello tied the game in the first at 1-1 with a double to right center, plating Matthew Coker, and again the Eagles were able to tie the game after falling behind 3-1 in the top of the second, getting a solo homer from Post and then a Coker single to left in the bottom of the inning, knotting the game at 3-3.

Eckerd took the lead for good in the third, and then in the fourth exploded for five runs to take a commanding 9-3 lead thanks to several ERAU errors.

Embry-Riddle slowly chipped away, scoring a run in the last of the fourth when Marinello grounded out, scoring Traficante from third after he singled and moved around the bases to third. ERAU then scored two more runs in the fifth, one on a wild pitch and then another on an RBI fielder's choice from Vittoria, making it a 9-6 ballgame.

Blaine Hogue worked a scoreless fifth and then sixth for ERAU, sent the game to the bottom of the sixth where the Eagles got two more runs thanks to Tyler Castelli and Post RBIs, but with runners at second and third, the Tritons were able to escape with the lead by striking out Zach Coldsnow.

Cox, who had already homered earlier in the game, homered again with one out in the seventh for a two-run lead.

ERAU put runners at second and third with two outs against Cox, who had moved from left field to the mound in the bottom of the seventh, but Cox was able to again escape the jam by inducing a fly ball from pinch hitter Alex Britton.

Eckerd added two more insurance runs in the ninth, but they were not needed as the Eagles went quietly in the bottom of the inning.

Cox finished 3-for-6 with three RBIs and got the save on the mound, while Post was 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and pair of runs. Coker went 3-for-6, and Marinello drove in two runs on two hits. Eckerd left 16 men on base, and the Eagles stranded a dozen.