Spartans Shutdown Ursuline on Opening Day

TAMPA, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team shutout Ursuline in consecutive games to open the season. The Spartans have dominated at Naimoli Family Softball Field over the last two years, accumulating a 37-13 record at home.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):

Final: Tampa 4, Ursuline 0
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (1-0) , Ursuline College Arrows (0-1)
Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa's won all four games in the short-lived history, beginning in 2016. The Spartans took the series opener, 6-1, in Clearwater, Fla. during the NFCA Leadoff Classic on February 5, 2016. Last season, these two programs kicked off the year at Naimoli Family Field with UT securing two victories by a 14-0 margin. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

BOT 1ST | To begin the year offensively, Lexie Chevalier reached base on a free-pass. Fellow sophomore, Stephanie Balmer, singled to right field to give UT two baserunners in the opening two at-bats. Corynn Miner attempted to sacrifice the runners over on the first two pitches. With two strikes, Miner laced the offering into left-field to drive in Chevalier for the first run of the season. After a hit-by-pitch to Bailey Phillips, Alexa Russo walked with the bases loaded to extend the lead for UT. || UT 2, UC 0

BOT 2ND | Chevalier walked for the second time on the afternoon, however, the sophomore reached on an illegal pitch from Kelsey Jakosh. Balmer reached on a walk and scored on an RBI single from Miner. Miner, the starting pitcher for Tampa, helped herself with her second RBI of the game. || UT 3, UC 0

BOT 4TH | Leading off the inning, Balmer was granted first-base on an error from the second basemen. Balmer stole second and moved to third after a groundout from Miner. With the runner on third, Maddie Farrell increased the lead with an RBI base-knock to right-field. Last year, Farrell led the team with 24 RBI. || UT 4, UC 0

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Corynn Miner made the start for UT; the redshirt-junior went five innings, allowing two hits while striking out five batters. 
• Miner contributed offensively as she went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. 
• In game one, three Spartans registered multiple hits (Balmer, Miner, and Emily Proffitt).
• Sam Kaye, a left-handed senior pitcher, came into relief for two scoreless innings of work. The New Jersey native allowed three hits and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth-inning.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Last season, Bailey Phillips led the team in hit-by-pitches (12). In her first two at-bats, the junior reached base via HBP. The Jupiter, Fla. native was plunked again in the sixth inning. 
• Emily Proffitt eclisped her 2019 total with two hits in today's contest. The junior from Newark, DE logged ten at-bats last season.
• Dating back to 2018, the Spartans own a 36-13 record at Naimoli Family Softball Field.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):

Final: Tampa 2, Ursuline 0
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (2-0) , Ursuline College Arrows (0-2)
Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa's won all five games in the short-lived history, beginning in 2016. The Spartans took the series opener, 6-1, in Clearwater, Fla. during the NFCA Leadoff Classic on February 5, 2016. Last season, these two programs kicked off the year at Naimoli Family Field with UT securing two victories by a 14-0 margin. 
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. Additionally, @Tampa_Softball on Twitter, and Instagram for social media content and scoring updates.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

BOT 1ST | With two outs, Corynn Miner singled on a grounder up the middle and advanced to second on an overthrow by the shortstop. Mariah Galhouse, the Spartans' starting pitcher, drove in the first run of the game with a line-drive to center-field. The Arrows' out-fielder Matyson Michalski made a sliding attempt on the line-drive, but the ball evaded her glove to give UT an early lead. || UT 1, UC 0

BOT 3RD | Emalee Jansen led off the inning with a walk and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Last season, the junior first-basemen led the team with five stolen bases. Jansen moved to third after a groundout by Balmer. With an insurance run at third, Corynn Miner logged her third RBI of the afternoon with a base hit to left-field. || UT 2, UC 0

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Mariah Galhouse started in the circle for game two and the right-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowed four hits and struck out three. 
• Galhouse tallied the first RBI of her career with the first inning base-knock. The freshman from Spring Hill, Fla. logged two hits in her collegiate debut. 
• In the fifth inning, Lexie Chevalier recorded the first double of the year for Tampa.
• Jodi Handler, a sophomore transfer, made her UT debut in the seventh inning. The Georgia Southern transfer secured the first save of the year for the Spartans. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• In 2019, the Spartans began the year with four straight shutouts. This afternoon, Ursuline was held scoreless in 14 innings of play.
• Tampa scored in the first inning in back-to-back games. 
• Dating back to 2018, the Spartans own a 37-13 record at Naimoli Family Softball Field.

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