Tampa Ends Tournament With Sunday Split

CLEARWATER, Fla – The University of Tampa softball team wrapped up the Eckerd Softball Tournament by splitting its final two games at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. UT fell to Barry University by a score of 4-3 in its first game and rebounded to defeat Nova Southeastern University by a 6-0 tally.

The Spartans sit 3-2 after concluding the tournament while the Buccaneers and Sharks return home with a 2-1 and 1-3 record, respectively.

In the first game of the day, UT came out swinging as they took a quick three run lead and were up three to one after the first inning. However, the offense was not able to recover after Barry scored three runs in the second inning that turned out to be the difference.

Sophomore Sahrina Cortes hit 2-for-2 in the first game and scored one run while freshman Makaleigh Dooley picked up a pair of RBI off of a first inning single to left field.

Geneva Santos (2-0) earned the win for Barry, pitching seven innings while allowing a pair of earned runs.

Senior Alyssa Bache (1-2) was credited with the loss, tossing six innings while surrendering a lone earned run.  The pitcher struck out four batters while issuing a single walk.

Tampa bounced back in the second contest against NSU, thanks to a complete-game shutout from starting pitcher Dooley (2-0).  The freshman scattered three hits while striking out eight batters against a single walk.

Second-baseman Cristina Clauberg hit 3-for-4 with a RBI against the Sharks while senior Bre Setree added a pair of hits and a RBI to her credit.  Freshman Erica Matich laced a RBI single to right-center to score a pair of runs while sophomore Miranda Matheny added a late-inning RBI double.  The Spartans outscored the Sharks 6-0 in the second game for the second shutout of the season.

UT will continue play on Friday, February 19 as they travel to Florida Tech for a three game series.  The first contest is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start in Melbourne, Fla.

Live stats will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com or the new UT Spartans Front Row app available in both the Apple App Store and through Google Play, free of charge.

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