Baseball | 2/22/2003 6:48:00 PM

Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--The Eckerd Tritons slugged past the Barry Buccaneers 15-12 in a rain-shortened game at Turley Field Saturday afternoon.

The Bucs grabbed the early lead, scoring eight runs in the first two innings. But the Tritons sent 22 men to the plate in the third and fourth innings to score 14 runs and went on to the win.

Joey Perez led the Bucs at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and four runs scored. Billy Zoffinger added a pair of hits and four RBI. Tony Menendez hit two homers and drove in six for the Tritons.

Greg Dicso (1-2) took the loss in relief for the Bucs, allowing five runs (four earned) in 1.1 innings. He gave up three hits and two walks.

Starter Alex Gonzalez went two innings and allowed one earned run. But in the third inning, he allowed seven straight hits, including two homers, to start the frame.

Andre Steele (1-1) tossed 3.2 innings in relief to earn the win for the Tritons. He allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out two. Ryan Wade threw a scoreless inning to earn his first save.

The game was called in the top of the seventh inning due to the presence of lightning and cancelled after a brief delay. The teams will attempt to play two games tomorrow to complete the series.

Eckerd 15, Barry 12 (Feb 22, 2003 at St. Petersburg, Fla.) (Game 1)
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Barry............... 350 202 - 12 10 4 (5-8)
Eckerd.............. 107 700 - 15 14 3 (7-10)
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Pitchers: Barry - Gonzalez; Dicso(3); Cabrera(4); Downey(4); Flynn(6). Eckerd - Sponholtz;
Steele(2); Wade(6).
Win-Steele(1-1) Save-Wade(1) Loss-Dicso(1-2) T-3:06 A-113
HR ECB - Menendez 2 (2); Regan (1).
Gonzalez faced 7 batters in the 3rd.
Steele faced 4 batters in the 6th.