No. 7 Tampa Suffers a Pair of Losses to SSC Opponent Barry
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 7 University of Tampa (18-8, 6-5 SSC) softball team suffered a pair of losses to Barry University (21-10, 9-2 SSC) in a doubleheader at Naimoli Family Field on Saturday.
Junior Kayla Cox started game one and suffered her fourth loss of the season. She tossed a complete 11.0 innings with 15 strikeouts and allowing three runs. Her record falls to 13-4 on the year.
Tampa jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Taylor Storey doubled to lead off the inning. Katlyn Raatz followed with an RBI single that scored pinch runner Meagan Brislin.
The Buccaneers rallied in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 1-1. Pinch runner Christal Cruz scored on an RBI base hit by Kelly Martinez to send the game to extra innings.
Sarah Broeseker tripled to lead off the Barry ninth and scored on an RBI single by Camille Czarnecki to take a 2-1 lead. The Spartans responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on a fielding error by the Buccaneers. Brittany Garcia came around to score and tie the game at 2-2.
The Buccaneers reclaimed the lead in the top of the 11th on an RBI single by Alexis Kent that scored Martinez. Tampa was held scoreless in the bottom of the inning and Barry held on for the 3-2 victory.
Julia Morrow started the second game where she went 7.0 innings with nine strikeouts and allowing two earned runs. She suffered her fourth loss of the year and now holds an overall record of 5-4.
Barry scored four runs in the top of the second and jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage. Ashley Fernandez delivered a clutch bases clearing RBI double in the inning. The runs were all unearned as a result of a fielding error by Tampa.
The Spartans chipped away in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs to trim the lead to 4-2. Meagan Burke lead off the inning with a single. She came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Stacy Piagno. Raatz followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit in half.
In the top of the fifth Barry scored on an RBI single by Czarnecki that plated Broeseker. Tampa responded in the bottom of the inning with a run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Burke that scored Kayleen Boatwright.
The Buccaneers added an insurance run in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded hit batter that extended the lead to 6-3, which would be the eventual final score.
UT will return to action Sunday morning to conclude the weekend series against Barry. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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