Spartans Softball Sweeps Opening Day Double Header

Spartans Softball Sweeps Opening Day Double Header
February 2, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team took the field for the first time this season, starting the year with a double header against the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes. There was not just Opening Day excitement in the air at Naimoli Stadium, but this season marks year 30 for Tampa Head Softball Coach Leslie Kanter and longtime Assistant Coach Denise Rubio. The pair have guided the Tampa Softball program to nothing but success for over three decades with no plans to slow down soon. The Spartans come into this season ranked No. 10 in the country and selected to win another Sunshine State Conference title in the preseason SSC Coaches Poll. Wanting to celebrate their coaches in style, Tampa played clean softball the entire day. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Location: Naimoli Stadium l University of Tampa 

History: This was the first ever meeting between these two programs. Tampa now leads the all-time series 2-0 after today's sweep. 

Game One Final: No. 10 Tampa 2 | Georgia Southwestern 1

Game Two Final: No. 10 Tampa 3 | Georgia Southwestern  1

 

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Gwen McGinnis got the opening game start for the Spartans and wasted no time re-introducing herself to the new season. McGinnis recorded her first strikeout of the year on the second batter she faced. She followed that up by inducing a 4-6-3 double play, which was smoothly handled by the Spartans infield. Throwing up a zero in the top of the inning became standard for McGinnis as she produced four straight shutout innings. Tampa was able to take advantage of the strong start in the circle from their starter in the second inning, scoring the first runs of the game. With a runner on first, Alexa Russo singled to left and both base runners smartly advanced on a long throw to home plate from the out field. This set up Kelsey Winters with an opportunity to drive in a run with teammates on second and third. Winters delivered with a deep sac fly to center and Kinnah Kreidler easily crossed home for the first Spartan run of the year. Mckenna Demartino welcomed herself to college softball with a huge single up the middle in her first ever plate appearance to drive in the second run of the game. The Freshman from Clearmont, Fla started both games at shortstop for the Spartans, playing near perfect defense and in total going 3-6 at the plate with an RBI and run scored. Tampa held on to a 2-0 lead until the fifth inning when the Hurricanes manufactured a run in the top half of the inning. Gwen McGinnis's day in the circle ended after five strong innings, recording just the lone run while striking out five. The Spartans turned to Kate DeSimone for the six out save opportunity, which she completed flawlessly. Desimone kept Georgia Southwestern completely off balance with her use of multiple pitches. She sawed multiple hitters with fastballs inside, playing that off her offspeed mix which was deadly. The Spartans defense continued their strong day behind their star pitchers, not recording a single error. Desimone picked up the save and Tampa packed up the very crucial win number one of the new campaign. 

INSIDE THE STATS: 

  • Spartans pitchers held Georgia Southwestern to just 5 hits and 1 run in 7.0 IP

  • Alexa Russo came to play, going 2-3 at the plate and recording 4 total outs 

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

After a defensive battle and pitching duel in game one, the Spartans knew they needed to dig in to complete the opening day sweep. In the circle and batting third for Tampa was two-way star Mariah Galhouse. Gailhouse immediately set the tone in the top of the first, producing a clean inning with three straight weak ground balls for easy outs. The Spartans wasted no time to strike first, getting on the board with a two out rally started by who else but Mariah Galhouse. After a lengthy at bat, Gailhouse drew a walk and used her speed to steal second. Georgia Southwestern let the Gailhouse walk snowball, and two batters later the Spartans had bases loaded. Alexa Russo worked her way to an RBI walk to put the Spartans up 1-0. The Hurricanes got out of the inning but after another perfect inning in the top of the second, Tampa went right back to work.  Mckenna Demartino continued her excellent day and start to her career by starting the bottom of the second with a single. She worked her way around the bases and used a Lauren Fantone sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2-0. Gailhouse induced three more weak ground balls in the top of the third and the Spartan offense rallied again for another insurance run. Newcomer Abby Sulte led off the bottom half of the inning with a power double and one batter later, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alexa Russo clutched up yet again, this time sending a sac fly deep to left to score Sulte. Up 3-0 with 12 outs to get, the Spartans just had to continue playing strong defense and Mariah Galhouse would lead them to victory. She did just that, going the distance for her first complete game of the season. Georgia Southwestern was only able to get to Galhouse for a single run as they shut them down inning after inning. Of her 78 total pitches across 7.0 IP, she recorded 58 strikes and zero walks. Galhouse held the Hurricanes to just one run over three hits to record a win in her first start of the year. The Spartan defense remained strong the entire day in completing the sweep, again not recording an error in game two. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

UP NEXT: The Spartans will be back at Naimoli Stadium on Thursday, February 6th. Tampa will face regional opponent Alabama-Huntsville in a double header starting at 4:00pm.