Spartans Drop Two On Final Tournament Day

CLEARWATER, Fla. - In the final day of the Eckerd Spring Invitational, the University of Tampa (2-4) softball team was unable to notch a win, falling to both West Florida (8-2) and No. 6 Valdosta State (8-0) by final scores of 9-2 and 3-1 respectively.

Junior leadoff, Julie Wisniewski started off the first game for the Spartans with a double on the first pitch she saw. After a sacrifice bunt by Susan Jallo, Wisniewski scored on a dropped ball by the shortstop. Brittany Hipple would later single in Cassie Barnes from first to give the Spartans a quick lead. West Florida was able to manufacture two runs of its own in the bottom half to tie things up. The Argonauts would later tally four in the fifth inning in route to a 9-2 victory.

The last game of the weekend for the Spartans rendered an emotional loss for the Spartans.

A Shannon Kelly single drove in freshman Brittany Dattilo in the second to give the Spartans an early lead against the nationally-ranked Blazers. Senior Heather Van Landingham mixed pitches well to keep VSU scoreless until the sixth inning. After an Amber Shaw single and Marti Littlefield with a hit by pitch, Blazers' slugger Alyssa Shirey sent the 2-2 offering into the seats giving the Blazers the lead and the victory.

The Spartans take the week off before traveling to Clermont to participate in an NCAA invitational.