Spartans Split Pair With NYIT on Neutral Site

CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Tampa (13-11) softball team picked up a lopsided victory and close loss against New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) on Tuesday at the National Training Complex.

UT needed just six innings to defeat NYIT in the first game by a score of 8-0. In a back-and-forth game two, the Bears prevailed by a 4-3 score.

Tampa set the tone in the first game, scoring in the first when Bre Setree doubled home Sahrina Cortes after the leadoff hitter reached on an infield single and advanced on a Cristina Clauberg sacrifice.

UT would add three runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 7-0 lead. Setree drove in a pair on a single, and later scored along with Clauberg on a two-base wild pitch that left play.

Laurie Kostecka drove in two runs in the fourth on a single, as Cortes followed with an RBI single. Kostecka would continue who great day at the plate in the bottom of the sixth when she doubled home Rachael Foote to secure the walk-off victory via the run rule.

Kostecka was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run in the first game as Cortes was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Setree added a pair of hits while driving in a run as well.

Alyssa Bache (8-5) started in the circle and was perfect after allowing a hit and a run in the first inning. The senior ace would complete the shutout while striking out 11 Bears.

In game two, Tampa scored in the first and second as an unearned run was followed by an RBI double by Cortes in the second.

After falling behind by a score of 3-2, the Spartans bounced back to tie the game in the fourth inning when Kostecka doubled to score teammate Jennie Sittloh. The Bears would eventually score the difference-making run in the bottom of the sixth.

Clauberg and Sittloh each added a pair of hits to lead the Spartan offense in game two, with each scoring a run as well. Makaleigh Dooley (5-5) started for Tampa and struck out six NYIT batters in 6.0 innings while walking none.

Tampa will return to action on Friday, April 1 at Palm Beach Atlantic University for a three-game South Region series with the Sailfish. The Friday night game is slated for 6 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday.

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