Bache Spins No-Hitter in Saturday Split with Lynn
Senior Alyssa Bache tossed her first no-hitter as a member of the Spartans to secure a series win over the Fighting Knights.
TAMPA, Fla. – Behind a masterful pitching performance from senior Alyssa Bache, the University of Tampa softball team wrapped up its three game series against Lynn University by splitting the Saturday twinbill. Lynn took the first contest by a 3-1 score before Bache tossed a no-hitter to oust the Fighting Knights by an 8-0 tally in five innings.
The Spartans conclude the set with a 5-6 overall record and a 2-4 mark in Sunshine State Conference play while the Fighting Knights return home with a 6-11-1 season tally and 1-4-1 in SSC action.
Sophomore Sahrina Cortes was the offensive catalyst for UT, hitting 5-for-7 on the day with three runs scored and a triple. Freshman Cristina Clauberg added a 3-for-6 performance between the doubleheader, scoring a run and driving in a RBI. Junior Bre Setree drove in three runs off of a pair of hits to lead the team in RBI.
It was a tale of two games as Lynn took the first game of the day by a 3-1 score. Freshman Makaleigh Dooley (2-1) pitched the full seven innings, allowing three runs in the fourth frame. The right-hander allowed only four hits in total to go along with four strikeouts and two walks.
Opposite Dooley was Lynn starter Francais Olexa (3-5) as the sophomore pitched the complete game, allowing six hits and one run with two walks and three strikeouts.
The Spartans outhit the Fighting Knights despite the outcome, stranding eight runners throughout the seven-inning contest.
UT's offensive work in the first game was led by shortstop Cortes who went 2-for-4 at the plate and was the only Spartan to get more than one hit off Olexa. Also contributing was Sophomore Savannah Jerkins who went 1-for-2 batting and scored the lone run of the game.
The Spartan attack exploded in the second contest, unleashing a 10-hit onslaught to defeat the Fighting Knights 8-0 in five-innings.
The offense backed up a fantastic start by senior Bache (3-4) as the pitcher spun her first no-hitter of the season in a five-inning, complete-game shutout. Bache was in control for the entire contest as she did not allow any baserunners in the first four innings of the game before surrendering a walk in the fifth inning. The right-hander finished the contest with six strikeouts.
Taking the circle for the Fighting Knights was Katelyn Key (3-3) for the second game in the series. Key allowed seven runs on eight hits and did not record any strikeouts or walks in four innings pitched.
The Spartan offense was spearheaded by sophomore Cortes, who hit a perfect 3-for-3 in the second contest while adding three runs while notching a triple. Clauberg added a pair of hits while Setree and Dooley each knocked in a pair of RBI.
UT capped off a dominating game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Breanna Taphouse drove in the winning run with a double to deep right field to score Lauren Pascoe and end the contest with a convincing 8-0 shutout win.
The Spartans will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to take on Nova Southeastern University for a three game series. The first game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 4th.
Live stats for the game will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com as well as the new UT Spartans Front Row app, available on both the Apple App Store and through Google Play.
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