A Pair of Kreidler Walk Off Hits Give Spartans First Wins of the Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tampa Softball team took to the road for the first time this season, and came away with a pair of wins against South region opponents to start their weekend in Daytona Beach.

INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:

Records: #2 Tampa 2-2, Mississippi College 5-5, West Alabama 3-2-1 

Location: Embry-Riddle Softball Field l Daytona Beach, Fla

History: Today's games mark the 5th all time meeting with Mississippi College (Tampa has a 2-3 record) and the 8th all time meeting with West Alabama (Tampa has a 3-5 record)

Game One Final vs. Mississippi College: #2 Tampa 3, Mississippi College 2

Game Two Final vs. West Alabama: #2 Tampa 5, West Alabama 4

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE vs. Mississippi College: 

The Spartans got off on the wrong foot, quickly giving up a run in the top of the first inning. Tampa had their opportunities to even up the game in the following innings, leaving runners on in 4 of their first 5 at bats all the while Gwen McGinnis held the Choctaw offense at bay. In the 6th inning, Tampa finally took an opportunity when Joey Trawick tied the game with a Sac Fly. After falling behind again in the top of the 7th, the top of the Spartan batting order strung together three straight 2 out hits with Kinnah Kreidler providing the walk-off 2 run single to bring the Spartans' first win of the season.

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• McGinnis - W (1-1): 7.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 SO

• Kreidler - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI 

• Makiah Brumbelow-Neal - 2-3
• Jenna Neupaver - 2-4, R

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO vs. West Alabama:

Tampa started the second game of the day much quicker than they did the first by scoring a run in the first to grab the early lead. The Spartans would add a second run to their total in the 3rd with Brubelow's RBI double. Not to be lost is Koda Travers keeping the Tigers scoreless through 4 innings. However, the Tigers would tie the game in the 5th inning with a pair of runs. Tampa had the answer though. In the bottom of the 6th, the Spartans were able to rip the lead back off an RBI double from Karlee Salisbury and an RBI fielder's choice from Abbey Johns. Once again though, the Tigers would find a couple of 7th inning runs to tie the game back up at 4. With the stage set for a dramatic finish, Kreidler stepped to the plate with 2 outs in the 7th again with a chance to end the game. And just like earlier in the day, she would do just that by clubbing a walk-off home run over the left field fence to bring the back and forth game to a close.

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• Travers - 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 SO

• McGinnis - W (2-1): 2.0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 SO

• Kreidler - 1-3, HR, RBI, BB, 3 R

• Brumbelow - 2-3, 2B, RBI, R

• Salisbury - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI  

UP NEXT: The Spartans continue play in the Eagle Classic tomorrow with a game at 10:00am against Southern Wesleyan and another at 12:30pm against Georgia College.