Makaleigh Dooley Tabbed SSC Pitcher of the Week

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference announced its weekly award winners and the University of Tampa softball team was represented through Makaleigh Dooley, who led Tampa to two upset victories over ranked opponents. 

Dooley, 2018 SSC Pitcher of the Year, earned Pitcher of the Week honors for the first time this season and for the eighth time in her career. The Tampa native started in three games over the weekend, compiling a 3-0 record while taking down #8 West Chester and #22 Valdosta State. Dooley carved up the competition with 28 strikeouts in 21 innings of work, and the senior allowed only one earned run in three complete games. With a 4-0 record on the season, Dooley's averaging over 9 strikeouts per 7 innings and she owns a 0.27 ERA in four starts. 

The Spartans opened the season with four straight shutouts for the first time in school history. Tampa is 6-1 on the season with victories over two ranked opponents, as well as regional wins over West Georgia and #22 Valdosta State. UT defeated Valdosta State for the first time since 2008, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Blazers. The only loss for the Spartans came against #2 Southern Arkansas. 

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will travel to Eckerd this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday night, as first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.

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