Winters Walk-Off Helps Spartans Earn Double Header Split

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team was back in action for day two of a three game double header slate that stretched Thursday to Saturday. Tonight's contest featured another top team in the south region, the West Alabama Tigers. With a 4-0 record heading into tonight's games, the Spartans knew the Tigers were going to give them everything they had. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Location: Naimoli Family Stadium l Tampa, Fla

History: Tonight's double header was the 6th and 7th matchups all-time between these two programs. After today's split, Tampa is still behind in the series 2-5 

Game One Final: No. 10 Tampa 2 | West Alabama 5

Game Two Final: No. 10 Tampa 6 | West Alabama  5

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Kelsey Winters got the game one start for the Spartans and recorded a strikeout in the top of the first. West Alabama was able to scratch a run with two outs to get on the board first.  The Spartans answered immediately with Lauren Fantone leading off the bottom of the first with a triple down the right field line. However the left fielder for West Alabama made a great play on a sac fly, throwing out Fantone at the plate. After an electrifying play, the Tigers took that momentum and ran with it. They put together good at-bats to score another run with two outs to take a 2-0 lead. With runners on second and third, the Tigers earned their third two out hit of the game to score another run but Lauren Fantone came up big to hose the runner on second at the plate to end the inning with Tampa only down 3-0. In the bottom of the second inning, the Spartans had two barrels snagged by Tiger defenders with great defensive plays. Kelsey Winters headed back out for her third inning of work that started with a hard comebacker that she was able to handle for the first out. She followed that up by inducing back to back weak line drives which were smoothly handled by the Tampa defense. After throwing up a much needed zero, Tampa was unable to take advantage and were still down 3-0 going into the final four innings of the game. Kate DeSimone took over in the circle for Winters in the top of the fourth (Winters responsible for runners on first and second) and was able to limit the damage to get out of the inning. The Tigers manufactured another run with back to back sacrifice bunts but DeSimone was able to strand runners at second and third to keep the Spartans within striking distance. Down 4-0 with only 12 outs remaining at the plate, there was no time to waste. Luaren Fantone led off the fourth inning with her second hit of the game, singling to right field. But once again the pitching and defense for West Alabama stood tall and did not let a Spartan reach second base. Kate DeSimone continued her strong outing in the circle by throwing up the second zero of the game for the Spartans in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half of the inning the Spartans were again unable to get the bats going to come up empty for the fifth inning in a row. After a leadoff single for the Tigers in the top of the sixth, they played selfless softball with back to back bunts to set up runners on second and third with only one out. DeSimone and the Tampa defense again minimized the damage but gave up another run to find themselves down 5-0. The starter for West Alabama shut down the Spartans for the sixth straight inning in a row, taking their five run lead onto the final inning. DeSimone returned the favor in the top of the seventh, earning a clean 1-2-3 inning to give the Spartans some life. Down to their final three outs, Lilly Kiester led off the inning with a rope down the left field line but another strong play from the UWA left fielder kept her on first. Abby Sulte almost added two runs to the scoreboard in one swing with a deep drive to left center but the ball hit the top of the wall for a double. With runners on second and third for the Spartans, Mariah Galehouse hit a deep sacrifice fly and Alexa Russo singled to right to bring both runners home. Unfortunately, those scoring plays would be the last as the Tigers got the final two outs to win game one on the road. 

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Luaren Fantone - 2-3 with a triple and an outfield assist 

• Kate DeSimone - 4 strikeouts in 4.0 IP. 

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

After a slow start to game one, the Spartans knew they needed to come out with energy in game two. Who better to provide a spark to Tampa then their opening day starter, Gwen McGinnis. McGinnis set the tone immediately, striking out the side in the top of the first for the 1-2-3 inning. At the plate in the first inning, both Fantone and Kiester hit the ball hard but both barrelled liners straight to a Tiger defender. Abby Sulte  drew a walk before catcher Kinnah Kriedler singled down the left field line. Mariah Galhouse put a charge into a ball but the Tiger outfield tracked it down at the wall to end the inning. In the top of the second inning, the Tigers led off with a single before reaching safely on back to back bunts to load the bases. West Alabama had Tampa on the ropes with bases juiced and no outs but Second baseman Kenzie Reynolds made the play of the day. On a pop fly in shallow right field, Reynolds raced back to make the catch before planting her back foot in the ground and firing home to throw out the runner on third trying to score. This play electrified the crowd at the Naimoli Family Stadium and Alexa Russo finished the inning with smooth play at third base. After escaping the bases loaded, zero outs jam, Tampa would be unable to turn the strong defense into runs as they ran themselves out of the bottom half of the inning. Going into the top of the third with a 0-0 ballgame, McGinnis knew she needed to keep throwing up zeros. She started the inning with a strikeout before inducing two weak infield outs. Fantone for the third time in today's double header led off the bottom half of the inning with a hit, this time singling to left field. The Spartans again got another baserunner on board when Kinnah Kriedler drew a walk but came up empty in the bottom half. Gwen McGinnis returned to the circle in the top of the fourth to face the Tiger line up a second time. She did allow a hit and walk but worked through the inning to complete her fourth shutout inning. She added two more strikeouts in the top of the fourth to give her six already for the game. Tampa unfortunately could not supply any run support for their starter and the contest remained tied 0-0 going into the fifth inning. Right fielder Mariah Galhouse and second baseman Kenzie Reynolds made back to back catches on the run to start the inning and McGinnis had two away in under 5 pitches. West Alabama legged out another bunt and drew a walk to try and start a two out rally. The following batter smoked a ball off the right field wall for a bases clearing triple and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead. McGinnis got the next batter to fly out but the Spartans were down two runs with only nine outs left. With two outs, Lilly Kiester worked a full count and singled to center but was unable to come home. McGinnis worked a clean 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth to give Tampa another chance to strike. They did just that with a lead off single from Kinnah Kriedler and Mariah Galhouse finding a way on base to set up second and third with no outs. In a big spot in this game, the West Alabama starter (who was already over 100 pitches) got out of the jam by retiring three straight Spartan hitters and holding the 2-0 Tiger lead. West Alabama took this momentum into the final inning of play and tacked on three insurance runs. Down 5-0 and struggling to gain any offensive momentum all day long, the Spartans had nothing to lose going into the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Luaren Fantone drew a walk trying to start passing the baton. Kiester and Sulte delivered with two straight hits and off the Spartans went. With the bases loaded, Kriedler and Galhouse both drew RBI walks to make the scoreline 5-2 and the comeback buzz was in the air. Alexa Russo stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and in one swing, sent Naimoli Stadium into a frenzy. With two strikes, she barreled a line drive past a diving Tiger outfielder for a bases clearing double. This tied the game at 5-5 and who else but Kelsey Winters was called on to complete the comeback. The starting pitcher from game one did not have the outing she wanted but had a chance late in game two to win the game. Winters answered the call with a walk-off single to center and the Spartans came all the way back from down 5-0 to win 6-5. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Gwen McGinnis - Complete game - 7.0 IP, 6 Strikeouts 

• Kinnah Kriedler - Reached base on all at bats - 2-2 2B, 2 Walks

• Alexa Russo - 3 RBI's

UP NEXT: The Spartans will be back at Naimoli Stadium tomorrow for another double header. Tampa will host Valdosta State at 2:00 and 4:00 on February 8th.