Spartan Seniors Lead Tampa to Sweep of Eckerd

TAMPA, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team wrapped up the 2018 campaign with a doubleheader against the Eckerd College Tritons on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans, led by its group of five seniors, swept the Tritons on the way to a 3rd place finish in the Sunshine State Conference standings.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):

Final: Tampa 3 (W: Sam Kaye 3-5), Eckerd 1 (L: Nikole Van Gennep 14-13) 
Records: Spartans (27-16, 18-11 SSC), Tritons (20-26, 11-18 SSC)
Location: Naimoli Family Stadium | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 91-22 over Eckerd. 
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Bott. 1st: Shelby Press hit a one-out single to the shortstop and moved into scoring position on the next batter as Makaleigh Dooley was hit by a pitch on the first ball she saw on the day. Emalee Jansen singled to right field to score Press and give Tampa the lead as Dooley moved to third. Taylor Farrell stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and hit a double to left-center that drove in both runners for a 3-0 lead for the Spartans after one inning.

Top 5th: The Tritons snapped the shutout on an unearned run with the bases loaded to cut into the deficit. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Spartans were able to turn a triple play in the top of the 5th inning and a double play in the top of the 6th inning to keep Eckerd at bay.
• Kaye went the full game giving up no earned runs, striking out two, and walking two.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Spartans now have 72 extra base hits.
• Tampa has recorded 122 RBI.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):

Final: Tampa 2 (W: Makaleigh Dooley 25-11), Eckerd 0 (L: Janna Gaburo 3-8) 
Records: Spartans (28-16, 19-11 SSC), Tritons (20-27, 11-19 SSC)
Location: Naimoli Family Stadium | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 92-22 over Eckerd. 
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Bott. 4th: Dooley reached first base as she was hit by a pitch yet again to open the inning. Mackenzie Allen replaced her as a pinch runner. Allen moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Jansen placed two runners on with two outs as she drew a walk. T.Farrell had another timely hit as she drove in the first run with a single to center field. Rachael Foote came on as a pinch hitter and singled to left field to score the final run of the game.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The two teams combined for 13 runners left on base.
• Dooley tossed her 30th complete game in her 32nd start.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Junior Dooley and Freshman duo Bailey Phillips and Jansen appeared in all 44 games for UT.
• Dooley closed out the season with 9 straight games without allowing a walk.
• Dooley also tossed seven straight complete games in the Spartans final eight games.
• The junior ace pitcher finished the season with a swinging strikeout to bring her season total to 226 in 247.1 innings thrown. 
• Dooley tied the school record for wins in a season with her 25th. 

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