Burke Secures Spartans Shutout Victory over Tars
TAMPA, Fla.- The No. 13 University of Tampa softball team shutout Rollins Collins on Saturday evening winning both games of the doubleheader by a score of 2-0 in game one and 1-0 in game two. The Spartans improve to 12-3 and 6-2 in the Sunshine State Conference while the Tars drop to 17-7 with a 3-2 conference standing.
The dual pitching threat of Kayla Cox and Julia Morrow kept the Tars scoreless throughout the night. Game one starter Cox tossed 15 strikeouts on one hit during the matchup improving her record to 6-2. She pitched two innings to close game two after Morrow threw 10 strikeouts with three hits.
Meagan Burke highlighted the premier game when she rocketed her second homerun in centerfield of the season for the Spartans. Alyssa Colletti quickly followed suit in the fourth with an RBI single to bring home Kaylin Raatz putting the Spartans up 2-0.
Rollins' Hailee Keisling launched a triple in the third to keep their chance at victory alive. However, Tampa held off and closed the game in a quick 65 minutes.
Game two picked up where the opening game left off with strong defense making scoring difficult for both teams. Pitchers Morrow and Rollins' starter Stephanie Sullivan dominated the circle preventing any hits until the fourth inning.
The Tars showed promise in the top of the seventh when Brittany Johnson reached third but the Spartans overcame the runner.
Finally in the bottom of the eighth inning, after back-to-back
singles by Kayleen Boatwright and Kandi Kuder, Burke sent an RBI
single past the second baseman to bring home Taylor Collins to end
the game.
Tampa returns to action Sunday morning at 10 a.m. to host Rollins
in the final game of the series at Naimoli Family Stadium in Tampa,
Fla. Live stats as well as live video webcast will be made
available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
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