Timely Hitting and Great Pitching Spark Spartan Sweep Over SMSU

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team take both games from the Mustangs to finish a busy week of non conference action unbeaten.

Records: Tampa 11-5, (3-3), Southwest Minnesota State 12-8

Location: Naimoli Family Stadium l Tampa, FL.

History: Today's double header marked 15th and 16th meetings between theSpartans and the Mustangs with Tampa winning 15 out of the 16 all time matchups.

Final Game One: Tampa 5, SMSU 0

Final Game Two: Tampa 3, SMSU 1

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Gwen McGinnis would toe the rubber to record her third start and fifth appearance of the week for the Spartans, and early on it would look like the Spartans would need every bit of McGinnis' brilliance as neither team was able to muster much offensively through the first three innings. Tampa would strike first in the fourth, and take advantage of the traffic on the base paths to score multiple runs off of RBI singles by Hannah Yetter and Aubrey Zechmann. Tampa would not take long to add to their lead, as they stepped to the plate ready to hit in the fifth. The Spartans were able to plate an extra three runs on four hits in the frame that included a pair of triples. The five runs would prove to be plenty for Tampa as McGinnis remained in the game this time, and remained as dominant as ever to record her second complete game shutout of the season.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• McGinnis - W (8-2): 7.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, SO

• Cam Feast - 3-3, RBI (6), R

• Makiah Brumbelow-Neal - 2-3, RBI (11), 3B (2), 2 R

• Yetter - 2-2, RBI (2), 3B (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

Koda Travers took to the circle for the second game of today's double header and made a compelling case for getting more starts in the future. In only her fourth collegiate start, Travers would move convincingly through the first four innings with the only blemish coming from a wild pitch that allowed the Mustangs to snatch the early game two lead. For a while, that run looked as though it may prove decisive due to the pitchers duel that was brewing in the circle. However, the Spartans were able to break out the big hits at a big time in the bottom of the fourth as they were able to grab the lead back by putting up three runs in the fourth thanks to a pair of doubles, a triple, and an RBI single in the inning. Now pitching with the lead, Travers would increase her focus and her execution in the circle. The freshman would only allow one baserunner through the final three innings to propel the Spartans to a come from behind win, and in doing so would record her first career complete game. 

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• Travers - W (2-1): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 SO

• Feast - 2-3, RBI (7), 3B (1), R

• Karlee Salisbury - 1-2, RBI (10), R

• Johns - 1-2, RBI (5), 2B (6)

() - Season Totals

UP NEXT: The Spartans will return to the field in just under a week when they take on Caldwell for a doubleheader on Friday, March 13 at 2:00pm.