Jessica Keefe and Deanna Henriott Lead Spartans to Pair of Victories
SAINT LEO, Fla. - The University of Tampa softball team (2-0) recorded a pair of one-run victories over the University of Arkansas-Monticello (0-2) to open the 2008 season.
In the first game, Monticello opened the scoring in the first
inning with a lead-off home run by Meredith Heckel to take an early
1-0 lead. Tampa then responded in the bottom of the inning with an
RBI single by Kallan Casey that scored Ashley Arcuri from third,
tying the game 1-1.
Monticello struck back with three runs in the third and one in the
fourth to take a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth
inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Casey added to her big
game with a solo home run to lead off the inning, sending the ball
sailing into the netting on top of the batting cages in left
field.
With the score 5-2 in favor of Monticello, junior outfielder
Jessica Keefe stepped up to the plate with Rachel Browning and
Krystal Crooks on first and second. The native of Lemont, Ill.
promptly hit a towering three-run home run over the scoreboard in
center field, tying the game 5-5.
Tampa came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning with the score
still tied at 5. After Michelle Horan reached on a bunt single with
two outs, Arcuri singled sharply to right field, allowing Horan to
advance to third before coming across the plate to score the
winning run on an error by Monticello.
Deanna Henriott was the story of the night for the Spartans,
however, pitching three scoreless innings of relief in the first
game to pick up the win in her first appearance as a Spartan. The
freshman from St. Petersburg got the start in the second game, and
took full advantage of it, going the distance for Tampa on her way
to striking out 12 batters, adding to the eight strikeouts she had
in game one.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through the first six
innings of the second game, combining for a total of only five hits
thanks to dominating performances from the two starters.
Tampa then came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with the
opportunity to walk off with their second win of the night. After
Brandi Blout singled with one out, Katie Davis laid down a
sacrifice bunt to move her over to second. With two outs and Blout
on second, Horan roped a single through the left side, allowing
Blout to come around and score the winning run.
Horan led the way for the Spartans with three hits in six at-bats,
while Casey and Keefe each added a home run to go with two and
three RBIs, respectively. Henriott pitched a total of ten innings
between the two games, giving up four hits, no runs, and striking
out 20 batters on her way to picking up the win in both games.
Tampa returns to the field tomorrow in its home opener as they face
Palm Beach Atlantic in a two-game set starting at 4 pm.