Spartans Tame Lions in Series Sweep

SAINT LEO, Fla. –  The 25th ranked University of Tampa softball team wrapped up their regular season series against the 4th ranked Saint Leo University Lions on Thursday evening with a doubleheader. The first game of the day went in favor of the Spartans as the game went into extra innings for the second time in a row while the finale ended in regulation but also went to the visitors as the Spartans avenged last season's sweep at the hands of Saint Leo.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 5 (W: Makaleigh Dooley 16-5), Saint Leo 3 (L: Adkins 19-5) 
Records: Spartans (26-8, 13-4 SSC), Lions (34-9, 15-5 SSC)
Location: University Softball Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails in the all-time series 46-55 to Saint Leo
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat andVimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Top 5th: Shelby Press drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a single through the right side by Elly Pillers. Taylor Farrell singled to left field, driving in the opening run of the game. Bre Setree then hit a single to center field and Pillers moved to third, coming in to score on a fielding error by the catcher on the throw home.

Top 7th: Setree hit a one-out double to left-center field. After Breanna Taphouse replaced her as a pinch runner, Taphouse advanced to third on a groundout to the shortstop. Maddie Farrell was able to drive her in with a single to center field to add one insurance run and make it 3-0 for Tampa.

Bottom 7th: The Lions would not go down without a fight as they took advantage of two errors in the inning to tie the game and send it to extra innings for the second game in a row.

Top 8th: The home side made a pitching change to start the inning as Adkins replaced Mitts in the circle. Laurie Kostecka singled to left-center field and Pillers drew a one-out walk to put two runners on base. A single by T.Farrell loaded the bases for the Spartans and Dooley singled to left field with two outs to score the two runs that gave UT the 5-3 lead. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Lions loaded the bases in the 3rd inning (with 2 outs) and 6th inning (with 0 outs) but the Spartans got out of the jam without giving up any runs.
• Setree tied the school record for career doubles at 37 with a double in the 7th inning.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Spartans have drawn at least one walk in seven straight games and have five in this series. 
• UT has three straight games with double-digit hits.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 5 (W: Miner 11-3), Saint Leo 4 (L: Neuman 5-1) 
Records: Spartans (27-8, 14-4 SSC), Lions (34-10, 15-6 SSC)
Location: University Softball Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails in the all-time series 47-55 to Saint Leo
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat andVimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Top 1st: Setree singled to right field with two outs and advanced to second on a single through the left side by Dooley. M.Farrell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jennie Sittloh gave UT a 1-0 lead with another single through the left side. 

Bottom 1st: The Lions were quick to tie the game as a double to right field allowed a run to come in from second to tie the game 1-1.

Bottom 2nd: A desperate Saint Leo team kept up the pressure as they put a pair of runs up on the board to take advantage of the situation and open up a 3-1 lead.

Top 4th: Kelsey Humphrey singled down the left field line with one out and moved to second as Lauren Reyes reached base safely on a bunt attempt that the catcher had a throwing error on. Pillers drew her second walk of the game to load the bases and all the runners moved up a base on a single up the middle by T.Farrell. A sacrifice fly to right field by Setree tied the game and Dooley gave her team the lead with another single up the middle to make the score 4-3.

Bottom 6th: The home side tied the game up at 4-4 as a runner reached on an error to start the inning making it all the way to second base and coming around to score on a single to the shortstop.

Top 7th: Setree hit a solo home run to right-center field to give her team a 5-4 lead and the sweep.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Pillers has drawn 11 walks this year, tied for third on the team. 
• Miner tossed seven innings, giving up just one run and striking out four.
• Tampa hit Adkins for eight hits, four runs, and two drawn walks.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• A walk in the second inning by Pillers extended the team streak to eight games with at least one walk.
• UT has won every conference series so far this season after taking all three from Saint Leo.

UP NEXT:

The team will be back on the road for their final road series of the regular season when they visit the Eckerd College Tritons on Friday, April 21st at 6 p.m. to open a three-game series that wraps up with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader slated to start at 1 p.m.

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