Sailfish Sink Spartans in Friday Doubleheader

West Palm Beach, Fla - The University of Tampa Spartans traveled to West Palm Beach, Fla on Friday afternoon to take on the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. For the second weekend in a row, the doubleheader was moved up from Saturday to Friday as the weather outlook for Saturday afternoon is not very positive. Despite UT's best efforts, the Sailfish took both games winning the first 6-2 and the second 2-0.

Tampa now stands at 13-13 on the season while Palm Beach Atlantic moves to 23-13 overall.

In game one of the series, senior Alyssa Bache (8-6) took the circle for UT. Bache pitched the complete game, giving up just eight hits, no walks and striking out five along with the six runs. The Sailfish did the biggest damage in the bottom of the fifth inning as they loaded the bases and right fielder Victoria Gonzalez hit a 3-2 pitch that was helped out by the wind and ended up past the left field fence for the four runs. Gonzalez was also responsible for the first two runs for PBA as she hit a home run in the first inning for the 2-0 lead. 

Palm Beach Atlantic starter Amber Johnson (9-1) was credited with the win as she also went the complete game, surrendering only two runs on two hits, one walk, and getting four strikeouts. 

The two runs for UT came in the top of the fifth inning. Trailing by two runs, shortstop Alyssa Colletti drew a walk with one out. Junior Jennie Sittloh came up to bat and would hit her first home run of the season as she sent a pitch out to left field that cleared the fence.

In the second game of the day, freshman Makaleigh Dooley (5-6) was the starter for the Spartans. Despite spreading out the six hits she gave up, the Sailfish managed to get to her in the first inning for the two runs that ended up being enough. Dooley also had six strikeouts and no walks on the evening.

Taking the circle for PBA was Jana Wagner (2-2). Wagner pitched seven innings and gave up seven hits while walking two batters and getting three others to strikeout.

Despite managing seven hits off Wagner, the Spartans were kept off the board as they left six runners on the bases in the game. Freshman Cristina Clauberg and junior Bre Setree were the only ones to manage more then one hit in the game, both going 2 for 3 at the plate. 

The Spartans will now look to bounce back and take the field for the season finale against the Sailfish tomorrow morning. First pitch has been moved up and is now scheduled for 11 a.m.

Live stats will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com as well as on the UT Spartans Front Row app.

Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), Vimeo (vimeo.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instagram (tampaspartans).

UT also offers free messaging service for text and/or email, which sends alerts and press releases for Spartan teams. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com. A free app is also available for free download through Apple and Google Play stores. Please search for Tampa Spartans Front Row.