Susan Jallo Sends Tampa To First-Round Victory In Walk-Off Fashion

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The University of Tampa (39-7) softball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top the University of Arkansas-Monticello (43-14) by a 3-2 score on a walk-off home run by Susan Jallo in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The matchup came in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA South Regional, in the Winter Park bracket. Rollins College is serving as the host.

The game had the makings of a pitchers dual in the early innings as the first three-innings were scoreless as UT ace Deanna Henriott was pitted against Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Year Kayla Jackson.

The Cotton Blossoms struck for a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning, which was matched by a UT run in the bottom of the frame. The Spartans got on the board with an infield single by Brittany Joseph, which scored Cassie Barnes.

Tampa knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom half of the fifth as Becky Vyzas drove home Jallo on a double to right-center field. Jallo had previously reached base on a single.

With the score tied at 2-2, Jallo had the deciding and biggest hit of the night as the right-handed hitter blasted a line drive to the opposite field that cleared the fence. Jallo's bomb came after making a run-saving diving catch to end the top of the seventh inning with UAM runners on base.

Henriott added to her school-record of single-season victories, moving to 25-4 on the year. The junior from St. Petersburg, Fla., allowed seven hits and two runs in 7.0 innings of work. She also finished with seven strikeouts while walking just two.

The Spartans advance to play the winner of Friday's matchup between No. 2 seed and host Rollins College and No. 7 University of West Alabama. The game will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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