Spartans End Tournament In Sweeping Fashion
CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Tampa softball team improves to 7-5 after winning both games in the final day of the tournament with an 8-4 victory against Davenport University (8-2) and a 7-2 win Saint Anselm College (0-2).
The Spartan bats needed little time heating up in the first game as they attacked the Panthers. Susan Jallo reached on an infield single and later scored on a home run off the bat of Cassie Barnes. Brittany Hipple drove a double off the wall and would later score on an error by the center fielder, giving the Spartans an early three run lead.
The Panthers would trail until manufacturing three runs of their own in the fourth frame. Kristin Miedema started off the inning with a home run to dead centerfield. After a Kelsey Egyhazi hit-by-pitch and a double by Morgan Greenfield, Jessica Fagen would drive them in with a single to left center.
The lead would favor the Spartans once again after adding three more in the fifth. After a walk to Julie Wisniewski and a Barnes single, senior Jessica Tejas sent the 3-2 offering into the left center field gap for a two-RBI double. Tejas would later score on another crucial error by the center fielder.
After a pair of singles by Brittany Dattilo and Wisniewski, Jallo would plate the two with a single of her own and sealing the victory for the Spartans.
Heather Van Landingham earned her third victory of the year, striking out 10 and walking only three.
The Spartans also struck early in the second game against Saint Anselm. After Dattilo reached on a hit-by-pitch Barnes tripled over the center fielder's head, scoring Dattilo. Barnes would later score on a passed ball.
UT would add to the lead in the fourth, posting another pair. Ashley Carrea started off the inning with a triple and Brie Walton followed with a walk. A crucial throwing error by the pitcher gave the Spartans a four-run lead.
After a Hipple double, Tejas contributed to the scoring with a two-run homerun in the fifth. A Carrea double would plate Tejas in the sixth to finish the scoring for the Spartans and seal the victory.
Kari Walsh pitched well for the Spartans in route to her fourth victory on the season. While striking out 10 and walking one, Walsh's only mistake came in the fifth, giving up a home run to Hawk's third baseman, Jackie Giannino.
The Spartans are set to host Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, March 6. The double header marks the home opener for the Spartans as game times are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
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.