No Luck For Lions on Saint Patrick’s Day
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa (25-3, 9-0 SSC) softball team completed the series sweep of Saint Leo University (16-17, 2-7 SSC) by winning both games in the double header Saturday afternoon at Vince Naimoli Softball Field.
Tampa won by scores of 3-0 and 4-1, and continues to build on its best start in school history by compiling nine straight Sunshine State Conference (SSC) victories and no losses.
Sophomore Kayla Cox started game one and improved her record to 10-1 on the season. The national leader in ERA tossed 7.0 innings of shutout softball, along with 16 strikeouts and only one hit allowed.
In the shutout, Cox extended her scoreless innings streak to 37.1, which lowers her ERA to 0.46. She also extended UT's scoreless innings streak to 76.2 innings, a school record.
On offense, Kayleen Boatwright, Becky Vyzas, and Meagan Burke contributed RBI base hits during the game. Brie Walton also notched one run scored and one base hit.
St. Petersburg, Fla., native Deanna Henriott earned the win in game two, as she tossed 7.0 innings of one run softball and 10 strikeouts. She improved her record to 14-2 for the season.
Henriott's scoreless inning streak of 51.0 innings was broken on a Saint Leo RBI base hit in the seventh inning. Her scoreless innings streak of 51.0 is now a program record. She is also closing in on 1,000 strikeouts for her career, she is currently at 975. She will be the 26th pitcher to do so in NCAA Division II history if that occurs.
The team scoreless innings streak was ended at 83.0 innings with the RBI base hit, which has become an NCAA Division II record and program record. The record dates back to the game against Mary University (02/26/2012).
The Spartans benefited from a three-run rally in the sixth inning of game two to win. In the game, Taylor Storey and Vyzas each contributed two base hits and one RBI. Kayla Lamphier and Susan Jallo also drove in one run and had one base hit each.
Tampa will be back in action at home on Friday at 7 p.m., when it will begin a three game series against Rollins College. Admission to UT home games is free of charge, and live stats will also be available through tampaspartans.com.
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