Spartans Take Opening Conference Series Over Moccasins

LAKELAND, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team wrapped up their first conference series of the season with an afternoon doubleheader against Florida Southern. It took extra innings as the first game belonged to Florida Southern 1-0 in 11 innings. The second game also took extra innings this time going nine as the Spartans managed to get the 7-5 victory to split the doubleheader and clinch the series at 2-1.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME ONE):

Final (11 Innings): Tampa 0 (L: Makaleigh Dooley 4-5), Florida Southern 1 (W: Ehlers 1-2) 
Records: Spartans (4-6, 1-1 SSC), Moccasins (4-2, 1-1 SSC)
Location: Chris Bellotto Field | Lakeland, Fla.
All-time Series: The Spartans trail 43-75 in the series.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

Bottom 11th: The Mocs broke the tie in the 11th inning as they scored a run to take the opening game.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Spartans had at least one runner on base in every inning of the game except for the eighth and eleventh. 
• The two teams combined to leave 24 runners on base. 
• Sam Kaye went seven innings allowing no runs on eight hits and striking out two.
• Dooley pitched the remaining 3.2 innings giving up just the one run on five hits and striking out three.  

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa now has at least one drawn walk in five straight games.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME TWO):

Final (9 Innings): Tampa 7 (W: Dooley 5-5), Florida Southern 5 (L: Ehlers 1-3) 
Records: Spartans (5-6, 2-1 SSC), Moccasins (4-3, 1-2 SSC)
Location: Chris Bellotto Field | Lakeland, Fla.
All-time Series: The Spartans trail 44-75 in the series.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Top 2nd: The Spartans opened the scoring early in the game. Bailey Phillips reached first on a fielding error by the Moc's shortstop and stole second base on the next batter with nobody out. Maddie Farrell singled to right field and Phillips was waved home on the play and came in to score before the tag was able to be made. 

Top 5th: Shelby Press doubled down the left field line after an 11-pitch at-bat with one out on the board. Lauren Pascoe extended the Tampa lead to 2-0 as she hit a single to center field and advanced to second on the throw that allowed Press to come all the way around and slide into home. Sahrina Cortes put runners on the corner with two outs with a single through the left side and Cristina Clauberg made it 3-0 in favor of UT with a single to right field as Cortes advanced to third and Pascoe scored. Dooley helped out her own cause as she hit a single to left field that let Cortes score easily and kept two runners on with two outs. Phillips and M.Farrell drew back to back walks as the Spartans extended their lead to 5-0 in the game.

Bottom 6th: Florida Southern ended the shutout bid by Dooley as the offense for the home side came to life and scored five times as they tied the game up.

Top 9th: Pascoe hit a one-out single to get the Spartan offense moving as they looked to retake the lead. With two outs on the board, Clauberg singled up the middle to place Pascoe in scoring position. Dooley followed up with a single to right-center field that scored Pascoe and Phillips was able to safely reach first on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Clauberg to score and make it 7-5.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Dooley tossed her eighth complete game of the season and earned her fifth win of the year.
• M.Farrell finished the game 1 for 2 at the plate with 2 RBI.
• The 10 hits by UT marks the third game this season with double digits in that category. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa has now stolen four bases this season on six attempts. 
• The Spartans extended their streak of games with at least one walk to six.
• The five runs conceded is the most this season in a win. 

UP NEXT:

The team will return to the field on Friday evening as they host Rollins College for the first conference series at home this season. First pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

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