Russo's 7th Inning Bomb Lifts #2 Tampa Over ERAU

Daytona, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team was back in action tonight as they traveled to the east coast of Florida. The Spartans hit the clay to face Embry-Riddle in game one of a three game series. Riding a 22 game winning streak, Tampa knew if they stayed together and battled, anything was possible.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Records: #2 Tampa Spartans 27-1 (10-0 SSC), Embry-Riddle Eagles 18-10 (6-7 SSC)

Location: Radiology Associates Field l Daytona Beach, Fla

History: This was the 25th matchup between these two programs, Tampa leads the series 21-4. 

Final: #2 Tampa 5, Embry-Riddle 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Lauren Fantone opened tonight's contest with a base hit before Embry-Riddle's starter settled in for a clean inning. Gwen McGinnis got the start in the circle for Spartans and perusal, got right to work in the bottom half of the inning. She sat the eagles down in order to throw up the first of five zero's in her outing. Both teams remained scoreless through the second inning as it was not until the bottom of the third the game saw its first run. McGinnis was dealing but ERAU was able to convert back to back singles into a run to lead 1-0 after three. Not taking this lightly, Tampa responded right away in the top of the fourth. To lead off the inning, Mariah Galhouse caught a barrel and doubled to left field. Abbie Sulte followed her teammate up with another hard hit ball to the wall for a RBI double. With the score now tied 1-1, ERAU was able to escape the top of the fourth with no more damage. The Eagles fought back in the bottom of the fourth, scratching two runs across before McGinnis was able to get out of the inning. In the top of the fifth and sixth innings, Tampa was unable to answer with the bats being shut out for six outs. However, Gwen Mcginnis returned the favor in the circle in the bottom halves. She only allowed one hit through the fifth and sixth innings to give the Spartans a fighting chance in the last inning. Entering the seventh inning and down to their last three outs, the Spartans needed a spark. Kelsey Winters began the inning by working a 3-2 count and drawing a walk. Lauren Fantone followed this up by drawing a walk as well and Tampa had runners on first and second with no outs. Lilly Keister was able to advance both runners with a solid sacrifice bunt and the Spartans were in business. Kinnah Krieder stepped up next and worked her count full before hitting a hard ground ball past the shortstop to score both runners. Tampa had worked count counts and used situational hitting to tie the game 3-3, but they were not done yet. With Krieder on second, Alexa Russo drove a ball deep over the heads of the Eagle outfielders for a big time homerun and a 5-3 Spartan lead. This four run top of seventh took the Spartans from down two with their backs against the wall to up two and three outs away from win number 23. Gwen McGinnis stepped back into the circle for the seventh, pitching with a lead for the first time tonight. Despite ERAU earning two base runners, McGinnis shut the door on the Eagles to complete the Spartans comeback. The Tampa comeback extends the team's winning streak to 23 straight games. 

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Gwen McGinnis picks up her 11th win on the year while punching out four

• Alexa Russo and Lauren Fantone record two hits each 

UP NEXT: The Spartans will stay in Daytona Beach for a Saturday double header with the Eagles. Game one of the double header is slated to start at 12:00pm with game two right behind it.