No. 11 Tampa Splits Doubleheader with Fort Hays State
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 11 University of Tampa (14-4) softball team split a pair of games against Fort Hays State (8-2) in a doubleheader at Vince Naimoli Field on Wednesday.
Junior Kayla Cox started game one and suffered her second loss of the season. She tossed a complete 7.0 innings with 19 strikeouts and allowing one unearned run on no hits. The no-hitter was the 21st in Spartan history and eighth of her career. Cox has now thrown five no-hitters this season, including a perfect game. Her record falls to 10-2 on the year.
The game remained scoreless through the first six innings until the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh, which would be the final score. Fort Hays State capitalized off three Spartan errors in the inning.
Julia Morrow started the second game where she went 7.0 innings with nine strikeouts and allowing only one run. She earned her fourth victory of the year and now holds an overall record of 4-2.
Fort Hays State got on the board first in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Vaupel. Maddie Holub scored to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Tampa was held scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Meagan Burke led off the inning with a single. Taylor Storey followed with an infield single to set the stage for the Spartans. After back to back outs, Stacy Piagno came through with a clutch walk-off two RBI double. Pinch runner Meagan Brislin and Burke scored to give Tampa a 2-1 victory.
UT will return to action Friday evening at Saint Leo for the first of a three game set. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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