Spartans Sail Past PBA in First SSC Victory

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 4 University of Tampa softball team faced off against Palm Beach Atlantic in their very first Sunshine State Conference game of the 2022-23 season. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 4 Tampa 2 , Palm Beach Atlantic 1

Records:  Tampa Spartans (6-0, 1-0 SSC) Palm Beach Atlantic (5-8, 0-4 SSC) 

Location: Naimoli Family Softball Field | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: Tampa are 23-17 with a five-game winning streak against Palm Beach Atlantic. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Top 3rd

With both teams still in a hitless, Mary Beth Feldman walked a batter, then conceded a fielder's choice to allow to two runners on first and second base. This brought up PBA's Kendall Baer who singled up the middle to score in Bella O'Connor; Sailfish up one. | 1-0 (PBA)

Bottom 6th

Lauren Fantone singled to shallow right to get the first hit of the bottom half of the inning. Lilly Kiester advanced Fantone to second by setting a bunt for the fielder's choice. Alexa Russo placed a sac bunt to advance both Fantone & Kiester into scoring position. Later in the inning, a routine in-field fly hit by, Mariah Galhouse was dropped by Palm Beach Atlantic shortstop, Evoni Rodriguez after calling off second-baseman, Kendall Baer. Fantone & Kiester scored on this play to put the Spartans ahead by one. | 2-1 (Tampa)

INSIDE THE STATS:

• (W): Feldman (3-0): 6IP, ER, 7H, 2KO 2BB
• (L): Arturo (1-3): 6IP, 2R, 5H, 4KO
• Galhouse: 1-3, reached 1st base on error- game-winning play
• Fantone: 2-3, R
• Kiester: 1-2. R

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Spartans are on a six-game winning streak.
• Sailfish are on a four-game losing streak.
• Spartans are No. 1 in the SSC in Batting Average; No. 2 in Fielding

UP NEXT: Tampa face Palm Beach Atlantic again in a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 25th @12 P.M. in Tampa, Fla.

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