No. 13 Spartans Split DH Against Panthers

Melbourne, Fla – The University of Tampa softball team faced the Florida Tech Panthers in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, finishing their three-game series against the Panthers this weekend.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Game One Final: Tampa Spartans 13, Florida Tech Panthers 8

Game Two Final: Florida Tech Panthers 3, Tampa Spartans 2 

Records: No. 13 Tampa Spartans (11-5, 5-1 SSC) , Florida Tech Panthers (11-8, 3-3 SSC)

Location: Nancy Bettge Field | Melbourne, Fla.

All-time Series: The Spartans hold a 71-51 lead in the all-time series matchups against the Panthers.

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME ONE:

Top 2nd

• With two runners in scoring position, Abigail Siegel singled to center field, putting the first two runs on the scoreboard. | 2-0 Spartans
• Mariah Galhouse would add an additional run, hitting a single down the left field line to bring Siegel home. | 3-0 Spartans
• Corynn Miner, the cleanup hitter, wiped the bases clean with a three-run homer to left field. | 6-0 Spartans
• Alexa Russo reeled in an RBI after doubling to right field to score Lexie Chevalier. | 7-0 Spartans

Top 4th

• Galhouse doubled to left field, advancing to third on a passed ball shortly after. Miner then hit a sacrifice fly deep to center field, which would score Galhouse. | 8-0 Spartans

Bottom 5th

• The Panthers would get their bats going late in the game but made strides towards a comeback. Center fielder for the Panthers, Cheyenne Nelson, got on base by hitting a single to right field. Later, Mikayla Lewin would be hit by a pitch that advanced Nelson to second. With one out on the board, Ella Gibson stepped up. She would be walked, advancing both Lewin and Nelson. 
• With bases loaded, Panthers' Alex Hendrian hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Nelson, the first run for the Panthers of the afternoon. | 8-1 Spartans
• Jolie Miracle would cut the Spartans lead in half after hitting a three-run home run for the Panthers. | 8-4 Spartans

Top 6th 

• The Spartans would continue to pounce on their prey. Miner started things off for the Spartans. She would be walked, later advancing to second from a sacrifice bunt from Chevalier. Emalee Jansen stepped up with two outs, hitting a triple to left center to score Miner. | 9-4 Spartans
• Siegel would continue her stellar performance with another RBI, doubling to right field to score Jansen. | 10-4 Spartans
• Lauren Fantone would double to left center, scoring two. She would try to turn it into a triple but would be out at third base. | 12-4 Spartans

Bottom 6th

• The Panthers would maintain focus on a comeback in the next half inning, and they were closing in, with a double from Nelson, an error by the Spartans, and a single by Miracle. The Panthers were down by just four. | 12-8 Spartans

Top 7th

• With two runners on base, Russo scored her second RBI of the game with a single to the left. | 13-8 Spartans

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME ONE:

• (W) Miner; 4.2IP, 3KO, 8H, 4ER, , 2BB
• (L) Rivers; 2.2IP, KO, 7H, 5ER
• Seven Spartans; at least two hits

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME TWO:

Top 1st

• Fantone, the leadoff hitter, would get the momentum going for the Spartans with a single to shortstop. Later at bat came Miner, who remained consistent from her stellar performance in the first game. Miner set the tone for the Spartans, hitting a two-run home run for the early lead. | 2-0 Spartans

Bottom 1st

• The Panthers retaliated, quickly loading the bases from a walk and two singles. Next up was Gibson, hitting a single to score the Panthers first run. | 2-1 Spartans

Bottom 2nd

• Panthers would have a runner in scoring position after a walk that later advanced to third on a double. Nelson would step up and level the game for the Panthers, hitting a single to left field. | 2-2

Bottom 4th

• Wessel would reach first on an error by Jansen to start off the bottom half. Wessel would then steal second, elevating herself into scoring position. A well-orchestrated sacrifice bunt by Nelson would advance Wessel to third base. 
• Miracle then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Wessel to tag up and score to give the Panthers the lead. | 3-2 Panthers 

Top 7th

• Down by one and looking for redemption, the Spartans had one last chance. With one out, Stephanie Balmer would be walked, later out at second as Galhouse reached on a fielder's choice. 
• With Galhouse at first, Miner then walks. With two runners on base and one in scoring position, the Spartans looked to Chevalier to keep their chances alive. However, an infield fly to shortstop would seal the deal. | 3-2 Panthers

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME TWO:

• (W) Hendrian; 7IP, 4KO, 5H, 2ER, 5BB
• (L) Galhouse; 6IP, KO, 11H, 2ER, 3BB
• Panthers Gibson; 2-3, RBI
• Panthers Miracle; 1-3, RBI; Game-winning sac-fly

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Miner; two home runs in DH; third of the season.
• Spartans take two out of the three-game series against Florida Tech.

UP NEXT: Tampa will face Nova Southeastern Friday, March 4th @ 6 pm in Tampa, Fla.