Tampa and Eckerd Split Saturday Doubleheader

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa concluded their series against the Eckerd College Tritons Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at the Naimoli Family Softball Field. Game two in the series went to Tampa as they escaped with a narrow 4-3 victory in nine innings. The final game went to the Tritons in another close game as they took the final match 7-6.

With the three games complete, Tampa now stands at 15-18 overall and is 7-11 in the SSC. Eckerd moves to 25-20-1 on the season and are 9-11 in conference games.

Freshman Makaleigh Dooley (5-8) started for Tampa in the first game of the day and went 5.1 innings pitched as she gave up three runs on 2 hits while having four strikeouts and two walks. Senior Alyssa Bache (10-8) came on in relief and pitched the final 3.2 innings and was tagged with the win as she only allowed one hit and no runs while striking out three more Eckerd batters.

Opposite Dooley and starting for the Tritons was Nikole Van Gennep (14-15), starting for the second time in as many games. Van Gennep went the full 8.2 innings as she gave up the four runs on six hits and struck out three Tampa batters while also walking one.

The Spartans had a repeat performance at the plate as Friday night as they had six hits in the game. Junior Bre Setree led the way for the offense with 3 RBI on 2 hits. Center fielder Sahrina Cortes also had a solid game as she scored 2 of Tampa's 4 runs. The game winner for the Spartans came in the bottom of the ninth inning as Laurie Kostecka pinch hit and drove in Lauren Pascoe who had come in as a pinch runner.

Bache (10-9) made her second start of the series in the final game. Bache was only able to go 3.2 innings however as she gave up 6 hits to the Tritons with 6 runs given up. The senior also struck out three more batters while tossing one walk. Dooley came on in relief and pitched the final 3.1 innings giving up just one run on two hits and struck out one batter with no walks.

In the circle for Eckerd was Janna Gaburo (8-5). Gaburo was tagged with the win despite only pitching 4.1 innings and giving up 5 runs on 8 hits as the offense did enough to seal the deal. Van Gennep came on in relief and was credited with the save as she pitched the final 2.2 innings of work, giving up just one run on four hits and walking two batters.

The Tampa offense went off in the second game of the day. They had 12 hits on the day, double what they had managed in each of the previous two games. However, their rally to tie the game fell short as they fought back from a 7-2 hole to make it 7-6 but could not get that final run in to extend the game. Second baseman Cristina Clauberg went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored a run for UT as she was one of 5 Spartans to get at least 2 hits in the game. Cortes had two hits to go with her two runs, Setree had two hits with one RBI, Dooley had two hits, one run scored, and 2 RBI and left fielder Savannah Jerkins had two hits and one RBI as the team fought back into the game.

The Spartans will be back in action Friday April 22 as they travel to Lakeland, Flan in their final road trip of the season to take on the Florida Southeastern Mocs in a three game series. The first game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the series will conclude on Saturday April 23 with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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