UT Wins on Walk-off Single in the 9th Inning vs Embry-Riddle
Taylor Szostak and Makaleigh Dooley help Tampa top the Eagles
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
TAMPA, Fla – The University of Tampa softball team opened up their weekend series against the Embry-Riddle Eagles on Friday night. In a closely contested game, the Spartans managed to walk-off with the victory with a 2-1 final score in the 9th inning as catcher Taylor Szostak would single with two outs to bring home pitcher Makaleigh Dooley.
With the win, UT now stands at 10-7 on the season while the Eagles fall to 19-7. Tampa has now come out on top in three straight games after sweeping the Ferris State Bulldogs on Wednesday night.
Taking the circle for the Spartans for the game was senior Alyssa Bache (6-4). Coming off two wins midweek, Bache continued her strong performance against Embry-Riddle as she went 7.2 innings and allowed only one run that was unearned on three hits. She also struck out 13 batters while only having three walks. In the top of the eighth inning, freshman Makaleigh Dooley (4-2) came on to finish the game and earn the win as she went the final 1.1 innings. Dooley would not allow any more hits or runs by the Eagles and would end with one strikeout and no walks.
In the meantime, starting for Embry-Riddle was Kassidy Simmons (8-2). Simmons gave up the two runs on six hits and struck out three batters and she also did not give up any walks.
At the plate, it was a tough night for UT as despite tallying the six hits on the night, they were only able to get one run across in the seven innings of regulation play with five runners left on base during the game. Center fielder Sahrina Cortes was the only batter to get more than one hit as she went 2 for 4. Freshman Lauren Pascoe scored the first run for Tampa in the bottom of the 4th inning as she pinch ran for junior Bre Setree who double to start the inning. Pascoe scored off an error by Gabriella Obia at third base for the Eagles as Bache reached first base safely.
In extra innings, Dooley would reach second base off a throwing error by Hannah Thomas for Embry-Riddle. One batter later, she would move to third base as shortstop Alyssa Colletti singled to center field. With two outs and runners at the corners, Szostak came to the plate looking for her first hit of the night. She managed to make it count when it mattered the most as her single got past the infield and allowed the winning run to come in.
Tampa will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they wrap up the series with Embry-Riddle with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
Live stats, as well as a live broadcast, will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com as well as on the new UT Spartans Front Row app available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, free of charge.
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