Spartans Focused on Florida Southern

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa softball team will host their first conference series of the season against Florida Southern, with a three-game series beginning on Friday night. 

The Matchup: University of Tampa Spartans (8-2, 2-1 SSC) vs. Florida Southern College Moccasins (3-4, 1-2 SSC)

Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 22 - First Pitch: 6 p.m. || Saturday, Feb. 23 - Game One: 1 p.m. | Game Two: 3 p.m.

Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field || Tampa, Fla.

Series History: Tampa trails in the series 75-44, however UT has won three of the last four games against FSC.

About the Spartans: UT opened the season with four consecutive shut-outs for the first time in school history. The Spartans grabbed two ranked victories in the NFCA Leadoff Classic, securing wins over No. 8 West Chester and No. 22 Valdosta State, and won 2-of-3 at Eckerd College last weekend. Makaleigh Dooley leads the team in the circle with six complete games in as many starts, the senior's compiled a 6-0 record with a 0.53 ERA. Dooley has struck out 52 batters in 40 innings pitched, and she's earned SSC Pitcher of the Week in consecutive weeks. Last weekend, the Tampa native moved into the top five in school history in career strikeouts (478), complete games (62), and career victories (53). Sam Worrell, a senior transfer from USF, is the team-leader with eight hits in 27 at bats (.296 AVG), and she's racked up seven RBI on three extra-base hits (2B, 2 HR's). Corynn Miner leads the team with eight RBI, and she's second on the team with seven hits.

About the Moccasins: Florida Southern dropped 2-of-3 against Nova Southeastern last weekend, and the Moccasins have not won back-to-back games all season. They've played all seven games at home, therefore this will be the first test away from Lakeland. FSC's offense averages 2.7 runs per game, while their pitching staff allows 2.9 runs per game. Florida Southern's senior pitcher Aubrey Ehlers is 3-1 in six appearances, but she's only struck out five batters in 31 innings. Jessica Trana and Celia Higgins are tied for the team-lead with nine hits apiece. Higgins, a freshman third-basemen, leads the Moccasins with four RBI and she's hit a triple and a home run in her seven-game career. 

Watch Live: Fans may watch the game through TampaSpartans.tv. Live stats are available through TampaStats.com.

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