McGinnis Masterclass Delivers Two Wins for the Spartans

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team take both games of double header against Assumption behind dominant pitching and clutch hitting in game two.

Records: Tampa 9-5, (3-3), Assumption 0-4

Location: Naimoli Family Stadium l Tampa, FL.

History: Today's double header marked 5th and 6st meetings between these two programs with Tampa holding a perfect 6-0 record in their meetings.

Final Game One: Tampa 3, Assumption 0

Final Game Two: Tampa 3, Assumption 1

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Gwen McGinnis started game one of the double header and made quick work of the top of the Greyhound order, only needing six pitches to get the first three outs of the game. The offense for both teams would get off to a quiet start as the game's first run would not come until the third inning when Kinnah Kreidler would extend her team lead in RBIs and put the Spartans up 1-0. The Greyhounds threatened the very next inning by getting a runner to third base with just one out, but McGinnis would promptly strike out back-to-back hitters to snuff out the threat. Tampa would grab two more runs off of consecutive RBI singles from Jenna Neupaver and Kreidler in the fifth inning to give themselves a little breathing room down the stretch of the game, but McGinnis wouldn't end up needing those runs as she retired the final 12 hitters she faced to give Tampa the game one victory.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• McGinnis - W (5-2): 7.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 SO

• Neupaver - 2-2, RBI (8), BB, SB (3)

• Kreidler - 2-3, 2 RBI (14)

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

Holly Steffus got the start in game two of the double header for the Spartans, and much like the first game, neither team was able to generate much offensive pressure in the first two innings. However, Steffus would run into a road block in the third as the Greyhounds were able to muster their first run of the day and continue to threaten with runners on second and third, but Steffus stayed unfazed and escaped the inning without allowing any further damage. The Greyhounds would threaten again in the fourth inning prompting McGinnis to get the call out of the bullpen with runners on and no outs. From there, the Spartan defense would come up clutch by throwing out two runners at the plate to keep it a one run game. Despite this, Tampa still needed a run to tie it, and they found it in the sixth inning when Cam Feast would deliver the clutch RBI single to tie the game. The Spartans weren't done though. After Feast stole second, Makiah Brumbelow-Neal would come through with the huge pinch-hit two run single to give the Spartans the late lead. In the seventh, McGinnis would continue her dominance to close out the Greyhounds with minimal fuss to record a second win of the day for both her and the Spartans

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• Steffus - 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 SO

• McGinnis - W (6-2): 4.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 SO

• Brumbelow-Neal - 1-1, 2 RBI (7)

• Feast - 1-3, RBI (5), SB (3), R

• Kreidler - 2-3, R

() - Season Totals

UP NEXT: The Spartans take the field for the first of consecutive double headers against against Wilmington (Del.) this coming Friday, March 6 at 2:00pm.