Winning Continues for Spartans in Doubleheader Sweep of Wilmington

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa softball team continued its winning ways with its seventh and eighth consecutive wins in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Wilmington (Del.) University.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):

Final: Tampa 6 (W: Corynn Miner, 10-2), Wilmington 3 (L: Haley Downin, 2-1)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (15-5), Wilmington University Wildcats (Del.) (0-5)
Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: The two programs have only met twice in softball history as UT run-ruled Wilmington, 8-0, on February 26, 2012 in the first matchup. Tampa scored six runs combined in the fifth and sixth inning to cap off the victory. The Spartans' ace, Kayla Cox, tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out 13 batters in the inaugural contest. 
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Additionally, @Tampa_Softball on Twitter and Instagram for social media content and scoring updates.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

TOP 1ST | Alyssa Carrion reached base on an error by the shortstop, Stephanie Balmer, who dropped a pop up in the infield. In the following at-bat, Sara Miller drove a deep fly ball over the right fielder's head for an RBI triple. Miller logged the third RBI of her freshman campaign, which ties the team-lead for Wilmington. || WU 1, UT 0

BOT 1ST | With one out, Cristina Clauberg lined a single down the left field line for the Spartans' first baserunner.Corynn Miner reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second after a single from Mariah Galhouse. To load the bases, Maddie Farrell walked for the seventh time this year. Lexie Chevalier drove in two runs as she blasted a double to left center field which gave the Spartans' an early lead. With two runners in scoring position, Bailey Phillips singled to left field to score Farrell from third. The left-fielder for Wilmington, Rosa Lynn Burton, bobbled the ball and allowed Chevalier to score from second. || UT 4, WU 1

BOT 2ND | Balmer reached base on an infield single and advanced to second after a base knock from Clauberg. Miner reached on a free pass, Farrell logged an RBI on a walk with the bases loaded. || UT 5, WU 1

TOP 4TH | Jessica Ahearn led off the inning with a single to left field. Lauren Lopez recorded a base hit of her own, then the Wildcats loaded the bases with a walk to Kiersten Comer. With the bases-juiced, Burton slapped a grounder to third base and beat the throw for an RBI infield single. WU chipped away at the Spartans' lead as a passed ball scored Lopez from third. || UT 5, WU 3

BOT 6TH |Balmer gave the Spartans a three-run lead on a single through the left side that scored Emalee Jansen.  || UT 6, WU 3

INSIDE THE STATS:

• In her 11th start of the year, Corynn Miner tossed her fifth straight complete game. The red-shirt junior allowed just one earned run with three strikeouts while improving to 10-2 on the season.
• A total of four Spartans notched multiple hits, including Balmer, Clauberg, Galhouse and Jansen.
• Six Spartans registered a hit in the victory.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Spartans scored a first-inning run for the 11th time this year. Tampa's undefeated in all 11 games in which they have scored a first-inning run. 
• Tampa is now 5-2 on the season in game one of doubleheaders.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):

Final: Tampa 9 (W: Mariah Galhouse, 6-2), Wilmington 0 (L: Alexandra Ballester, 0-3)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (16-5), Wilmington University Wildcats (Del.) (0-6)
Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: After the doubleheader, the Spartans lead the series 3-0. UT run-ruled Wilmington, 8-0, on February 26, 2012 in the first matchup. Tampa scored six runs combined in the fifth and sixth inning to cap off the victory. The Spartans' ace, Kayla Cox, tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out 13 batters in the inaugural contest. 
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Additionally, @Tampa_Softball on Twitter, and Instagram for social media content and scoring updates.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

BOT 2ND | Mariah Galhouse led off with a laser to the shortstop and reached on an error. After a sacrifice bunt,Lexie Chevalier and Bailey Phillips worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. Emalee Jansen used a sacrifice fly to register the first run of the game for UT. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and two runs scored on a single from Emily Proffitt. Balmer drove in Proffitt with an RBI double down the left-field line. || UT 5, WU 0

BOT 3RD | The Spartan offense was not done, pouncing on the Wildcats for four more runs to extend their advantage. Chevalier got the scoring started with an RBI double to score Galhouse. Jansen, Proffitt and Balmer followed with RBI singles to account for the other runs in the frame. || UT 9, WU 0

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Mariah Galhouse tossed her first career complete-game shutout. The freshman from Spring Hill, Fla. allowed two hits, three walks and struck out three.
• The victory moves Galhouse to 6-2 on the season.
• Sam Kaye came on for a scoreless fifth inning as the senior punched out one Wilmington hitter.
• Balmer and Proffitt were the lone Spartans with two hits in a balanced offensive effort.
• Proffitt also drove in a team-high three runs for the Spartans.
• Phillips reached base via a walk in both plate appearances, scoring both times. Chevalier and Galhouse also scored a pair of runs apiece.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• This marks the first game of the season for Tampa where it ended in less than the regularly-scheduled seven innings.
• Nine runs are the second-highest scoring output for the Spartans in 2020, behind only an 11-run outburst against Davenport.
• The eight-game winning streak is the most since head coach Leslie Kanter's team won a school-record 19 games last season.
• The Spartans extended their non-conference winning streak to six games.

UP NEXT: The Spartans travel to Lakeland, Fla. on Friday for a three-game series against conference-foe, Florida Southern.

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