Spartans Dominate Mustangs in Mid-Week Doubleheader

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's softball team faced off against Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs in a doubleheader Thursday afternoon.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Game One Final: No.14 Tampa Spartans 5, Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 1

Game Two Final: No.14 Tampa Spartans 9, Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 1

Records: No. 14 Tampa Spartans (15-8), Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (8-11)

Location: Naimoli Stadium | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: The Spartans are 9-1 in the series history against the Mustangs. The last meeting between the teams came on March 10, 2020.

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME ONE:

Bottom 1st

• After the Mustangs went down on three at-bats, the Spartans looked to set the tone early on. The game's tempo started with Mariah Galhouse hitting a single through the shortstop gap for the Spartans first hit of the game. A sacrifice bunt would advance Galhouse to second base, with only one out. The following at-bat was Lauren Fantone, who ripped a single to right field, advancing to second after mishandling of the right fielder. Galhouse scored as a result of the play. | 1-0 (Spartans)

Bottom 2nd

• With the Mustangs still hitless, the Spartans continued to control the game. Lexie Chevalier singled to get on base and later advanced to second off a sac bunt, putting her in scoring position. Spartans outfielder, Mackenzie Allen, would successfully get on base after placing a strategic bunt to advance Chevalier to third. However, Allen would be caught stealing and thrown out at second. A slap hit by Avery Perkins scored Chevalier after Mustangs' pitcher Bloemendaal made an error on the play. | 2-0 (Spartans)

Top 3rd

• The Mustangs had enough and finally got their first hit of the game, ending Galhouse's no-hitter. With two outs and a runner on second, Mustangs Tatur singled through the gap to score in her fellow teammate, Waldow. | 2-1 (Spartans)
• Tatur was thrown out at second by Chevalier after trying to steal.

Bottom 3rd

• The Spartans immediately retaliated after the Mustangs scored their first run. Fantone and Corynn Miner got on base with a single and fielders choice, respectively. Next, Alexa Russo put down a sacrifice bunt and moved Fantone and Miner into scoring positions. Chevalier then hit a double to left field, reeling her two teammates home to increase the Spartans lead. | 4-1 (Spartans)
• Not only did Chevalier have two RBI in one inning, but after another Mustang infield error, Chevalier would round the bases home for the third run in the inning. | 5-1 (Spartans)

Top 7th

• With the Spartans going hitless after the bottom of third, the Mustangs had one last chance to even the score. After a single and a pinch runner entering for the Mustangs, Galhouse would throw out Mustangs Shwaluk at second for the first out. Galhouse then struck out the next two batters to close out the game.

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME ONE:

• (W) Galhouse (6-5); 7IP, 4KO, 4H, ER, BB, 2-4, R
• (L) Bloemendaal (5-4); 6IP, 7H, 5ER, 4R, BB
• Chevalier; 2-3, 2RBI
• Fantone; 2-3, RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME TWO:

Bottom 1st

• Galhouse started the game with a single and would later advance to second after a sac bunt. Fantone would bat next and hit a single, scoring Galhouse for the game's first run. | 1-0 (Spartans)
• A wild pitch advances Fantone to second and later to third after Miner singled to left field, holding Fantone from scoring. After a lineout to right field by Russo, Fantone tagged and scored. | 2-0 (Spartans)

Bottom 3rd

• After two singles and a sac bunt to have Stephanie Balmer and Fantone in scoring position, a wild pitch was thrown to Russo at the plate, which allowed Balmer to score. | 3-0 (Spartans)
• Russo would reach first on an error. Chevalier laid down a successful bunt to score Fantone, keeping the momentum going with runners on first and second base. | 4-0 (Spartans)
• With bases loaded, two outs, Perkins then hit a single to left-center to reel in Russo. | 5-0 (Spartans)
• The Spartans were in perfect condition, with the top of their lineup doing what needed to be done. Galhouse, the number three hitter, hit a two RBI single to score Emalee Jansen and Chevalier. | 7-0 (Spartans)

Bottom 4th

• With runners on second and third, pinch hitter Kate DeSimone fouled out down the first baseline, however, advancing Perez to third and Fantone home for an RBI sac fly. | 8-0 (Spartans)

Top 5th

• The Mustangs, giving up eight unanswered runs, were down to their last at-bat. Miner struck Mustangs' Ahrendt with a wild pitch to start the inning. Kebos pinch ran for Ahrendt. After this, a sac bunt would advance Kebos to second base. Then, Waldow hit a ball to right field and was mishandled by Perkins (E9), resulting in Kebos scoring for the Mustangs' first run of the game. The Spartans closed the inning with a lineout caught by Galhouse. 

Bottom 5th

• Lindsey Harper hit a deep triple to right-center to start the inning for the Spartans. Galhouse walked, putting runners on first and third with one out. Balmer stepped up to plate and hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Harper and advance Galhouse to third base. | 9-0 (Spartans)

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME TWO:

• (W) Miner (6-2); 5IP, 3KO, BB, One-hitter
• (L) Otte (0-1); 4.1IP, KO, 15H, 6ER, BB
• 5/10 Spartans batters at least two hits

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Spartans; 10 RBI in two games; most since the win over Florida Tech (13)
• 15H; Most hits in a game since Florida Tech (18)
• Spartans have only given up three runs in their last five games

UP NEXT: The Tampa Spartans have had a slight schedule modification and will now face the Florida Southern Mocs tomorrow, March 11th, in a doubleheader at 5:30 and 7:30 pm.