Arrows Misfire Against Potent Spartan Lineup

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 17 University of Tampa softball team hosted Ursuline College in its 2023 season opener, topping the Arrows by decisive shutout margins and finished with a perfect game in an afternoon doubleheader. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Game One Final: No. 17 Tampa 14, Ursuline 0 (5 Innings) 

Game Two Final: No. 17 Tampa 8, Ursuline 0 (5 Innings) 

Records: University of Tampa Spartans 2-0, Ursuline College Arrows 0-4

Location: Naimoli Field | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: Tampa and Ursuline met for the second consecutive season. UT now holds an 8-1 lead in the all-time series and are winners of three straight over the Arrows.

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME ONE:

• The Spartans scored in all four trips to the plate. The action started with a 5-run first Caroline Watson, Lexie Chevalier and Kate DeSimone each had an RBI single while Camryn Wineinger and Mariah Galhouse each had a sacrifice fly to drive in the other Spartan runs. Bottom 1 | 5-0 Tampa 

• Alexa Russo plated the sixth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to score Lauren Fantone. Bottom 2 | 6-0 Tampa

• Three more Spartans scored, led by an RBI double off the bat of DeSimone. Devin Hammonds and Russo also drove in runs for UT. Bottom 3 | 9-0 Tampa

• Tampa crossed five as Kylie Siwek had a two-run single while freshman Ashley Mantei doubled to score a run. The other two runs came on Arrow errors. Bottom 4 | 14-0 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME ONE:

• All-American Mary Beth Feldman started in the circle and earned her first win of the season. She went 3.0 innings, striking out six while allowing just two scattered hits with no walks.

• Freshman Gwen McGinnis tossed a perfect 2.0 innings with two strikeouts to finish the game.

• Tampa finished with 16 hits as 11 Spartans had last least one hit.

• Siwek, Russo and DeSimone each drove in a pair of runs.

• Lexie Chevalier had the game's lone triple while Mantei and Siwek each had doubles. 

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME TWO:

• UT scored two in the first on a Lilly Kiester sacrifice fly and RBI triple from Wineinger. Bottom 1 | 2-0 Tampa

• Gabby Mack scored her first collegiate run on an RBI from Kiester. Bottom 2 | 3-0 Tampa

• Mariah Galhouse helped her own cause with an RBI double as a double from Chevalier would bring Galhouse around to score. Bottom 3 | 5-0 Tampa

• The run-rule came into effect when UT scored three. A Fantone single started the scoring as Stephanie Balmer scored. Wineinger added a sacrifice fly as a Galhouse single accounted for the other run. Bottom 4 | 8-0 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME TWO:

• The Spartans threw a combined no-hitter with Galhouse starting and earning the victory. She would throw 4.0 perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts.

• DeSimone completed the no-hitter with a perfect fifth inning, including one punchout.

• Galhouse was also a force at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a walk to go with a pair of RBI and a run scored.

• Kiester also drove in two runs while Fantone scored two.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Tampa scored at least one run in each of its eight trips to the plate.

• UT won its season opener for the second consecutive season.

• This is the ninth perfect game for Tampa as the no-hitter is the 33rd in school history.

UP NEXT: Tampa travels to Longwood, Fla., for three games against South region opponents. UT meets Auburn-Montgomery and West Florida on Friday, followed by a Saturday matchup with Wingate.