Spartans Continue Home Stand with Eckerd College

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa softball team continues Sunshine State Conference play with a three-game set against the Eckerd College Tritons. The two teams enter the series with an identical SSC record as the Spartans have enjoyed a comfortable homestand winning four of the last five. 

The Matchup: University of Tampa Spartans (11-5, 4-2 SSC) vs. Eckerd College Tritons (7-7, 4-2 SSC)

Date/Time: Friday, February 28 - 6:00 p.m. || Saturday, February 29 - 1:00 p.m. (DH) 

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

Series History: Tampa holds a commanding lead over Eckerd, 94-23, as UT's won five of the last six games against the conference foe. In 2019, the Spartans took the season series with a six-run victory on Friday night and a spilt on Saturday. The dual-threat pitcher, Corynn Miner, made an impact in the opening weekend of 2019 conference play; with a 2-for-3, three-RBI game in the series opener. Miner, a St. Petersburg, Fla. native, tossed six innings on Saturday and struck out seven, while she allowed five runs on six hits. Maddie Farrell clubbed a two-run homer in the rubber match of the weekend. 

Last Time Out: After taking two of three games against No. 16 Saint Leo this past weekend, the Spartans followed up with a Monday afternoon sweep over Davenport University. In game one, UT was led to a 3-0 victory behind Miner's second consecutive complete game shutout. Mackenzie Allen made her first collegiate start in right field, while Lexie Chevalier started behind the plate for UT for the first time in her respective career. Allen went 1-for-3 and recorded her second stolen base of the year. Chevalier, a sophomore from Valrico, Fla., gunned down a baserunner during the seventh inning of game one. Emalee Jansen logged four hits combined in the doubleheader to lead the way for Tampa. In game two, four Spartans registered multiple hits in an 11-run outburst by the UT offense. Cristina Clauberg, a senior from Tampa Catholic, drove in four runs to set her single-game career high. Additionally, the second basemen filled the box score for extra-bases with a double and her first career triple. Avery Perkins started for the first time in her freshman campaign, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. 

About the Spartans: Tampa's led by their dual-threat ace, Miner, who ranks second in the SSC with seven wins and a 0.60 earned run average. In her last four starts, the right-hander tossed three complete game shutouts. Offensively, Miner leads the team with 18 hits and has driven in 12 runs, which ranks third in the conference. The red-shirt junior owns a .310 batting average with 11 runs scored. Mariah Galhouse, a freshman two-way player, has made seven starts in the circle. Galhouse has earned a 4-2 record with a 1.63 ERA in eight appearances, while the Spring Hill, Fla. native ranks second on the team with 15 hits. Stephanie Balmer, a sophomore from Steinbrenner HS, has 14 hits on the year with a team-leading four doubles. Defensively, the All-SSC shortstop leads the Spartans with 51 assists, third in the conference. Farrell, a four-year starter for UT, has been behind the plate in all but two games this season. Tampa's offense is averaging 3.69 runs per game, while the pitching staff ranks second in the SSC with a 1.31 ERA.

About the Tritons: EC played in the Old Coast Classic alongside Tampa, Flagler, No. 24 Valdosta State and Wingate. The Tritons dropped both games against No. 24 VSU and spilt against the host, Flagler College. Since the Old Coast Classic, they've played eight straight games at the friendly confines of the Turley Athletic Complex. In the opening conference series, Eckerd swept Barry University and totaled 14 runs in three games. Traveling to Tampa for their first road trip in conference play, EC will enter the weekend series with the same conference record as UT. The Tritons come off two consecutive losses to Florida Tech as FIT out-scored EC, 13-4, on Saturday afternoon. Eckerd secured the game one victory on Friday night as freshman pitcher, Kensley Durrance, tossed a complete game. Durrance allowed two earned runs on six hits and six walks. The right-hander struck out four batters en route to her team-leading fourth win of the year. Eckerd's offense is led by Hannah Famiano, who boasts a .487 batting average with 19 hits in 39 at-bats. The junior from Steinbrenner HS has three doubles and six RBI, while she's only struck out three times all season. Ally Costa, a high-school teammate of Bailey Phillips', ranks second on the Tritons with 18 hits and a .391 batting average. In 14 games played, Costa leads the team with 13 runs scored and nine walks. Kaylin Kramer, a senior from Wellington, Fla., has a team-leading seven extra-base hits with six doubles and one triple.  

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

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