Tampa Splits Doubleheader After Pair of Comebacks

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa and Nova Southeastern University softball teams battled to a doubleheader split on Saturday as each team mounted come from behind victories. The Spartans won game one 7-6 as the Sharks took the second game 5-4. Tampa, who took two of three in the series, is now 24-13 on the season and 9-3 in Sunshine State Conference play. Nova Southeastern now stands at 22-22 and 2-7 in league action.

The Sharks took a 6-0 lead in game one before the Spartans scored seven unanswered with at least one run in each f the last six innings. Devlin Dougherty led the effort at the plate while going 2-4 with two RBI on a home run that cleared the fence in left-center field.

Three Spartan pitchers saw time on the mound with Heather Van Landingham receiving the win in relief after pitching three hitless innings and striking out six.

In game two, Tampa took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning before Nova scored five in the top half of the sixth. The Spartans cut the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh as they left the bases loaded while the Sharks got out of a one-out, bases loaded jam in the Spartan seventh to win the game.

Kelly Glover had three hits to go with an RBI while Samantha Becker added a pair of hits and drove in a run as well. Van Landingham pitched all seven innings, striking out four Sharks.

Tampa next travels to Boca Raton to meet Lynn on Friday at 3 p.m.