Spartans Dominant Wolves In First Meeting, Drop Second
CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Tampa softball team overpowered the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the first game by a score of 13-1 before falling to the Wolves in the second game 6-5. With the split the Spartans move to 5-5 on the season while the Wolves move to 2-2.
The first game witnessed an offensive outbreak for the Spartans as they wasted little time putting runs together, scoring four in the first.
Susan Jallo doubled to left center, Cassie Barnes reached on a throwing error courtesy of the shortstop, and Jessica Tejas walked. Senior Ashley Carrea would follow by putting the Spartans on the board with a grand slam over the right-center field fence.
Barnes would double down the left field line in the second to score Julie Wisniewski and Brittany Dattilo and add to the Spartans lead.
Carrea would tack on another run for the Spartans in the form of a solo shot to left in the third to give herself a career high five RBI. Wisniewski added a three run shot of her own in the fourth.
Tampa would add three more in the fifth thanks to Jallo and Barnes singles, a Brittany Hipple two-RBI double, and a pinch-hit RBI single by Brittany Garcia.
Heather Van Landingham started for the Spartans, pitching two innings and allowing one hit before a three hour weather delay paused the game. Lefty Kari Walsh took over after the delay, pitching three innings and striking out three to earn her third victory.
The second game rendered a less fortunate outcome for the Spartans. The Wolves struck first scoring an unearned run in the third inning, before the Spartans tied it up in the fifth. Shannon Kelly started off the inning with a single and would later score on a fielder's choice.
The Wolves would regain the lead by posting five runs in the sixth, including a Maggie Matthews home run. The Spartans would add two more in the bottom half thanks to singles by Barnes and Hipple, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tejas.
The Spartans would fight back in the seventh with a Jallo single and a two-run home run by Hipple, before surrendering the loss.
The Spartans are set to take on Davenoport on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and wrap up the weekend with a showdown against the Hawks of Saint Anselm scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.
Live stats and will be available through www.tampaspartans.com. Fans may also follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers eScores, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.