Career Pitching Performances Spark Spartan Sweep of Caldwell

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team take sweep yet another double header to extend their win streak to 11 games.

Records: Tampa 15-5, (3-3), Caldwell 1-11

Location: Naimoli Family Stadium l Tampa, FL.

History: Today's double header marked the 3rd and 4th meetings between these two programs with Tampa winning all 4 games.

Final Game One: Tampa 6, Caldwell 1

Final Game Two: Tampa 7, Caldwell 1

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

Holly Steffus took to the circle for the first of two games against the Cougars, marking the first time all season that she has started the front end of a double header. Steffus would not disappoint in this new spot, as she came out firing and worked through some early command issues to keep the Cougars from scoring through the first three innings. Tampa would not stay off the score board though, as they would strike in the first inning off an infield RBI single from Makiah Brumbelow-Neal. Tampa would add another in the third inning after Karlee Salisbury worked a hard fought, nine pitch, bases loaded walk. Steffus and the Spartans would maneuver around a trio of Cougar baserunners with the help of Kinnah Kreidler throwing out her sixth attempted stealer of the season. Brumbelow-Neal would add to her quality game and pad the Spartan lead in the fifth when she would smack a single into right field to bring home two more runs. Tampa would once again lean on good base running to further their success in the fifth to the tune of two more runs. As for Steffus and the Spartan defense, they would collectively hold Caldwell to only one run over the final four frames with Steffus allowing minimal traffic over that time as she would put her first career complete game in the books.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Steffus - W (4-1): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 5 SO

• Brumbelow-Neal - 2-3, 3 RBI (14), R

• Salisbury - 1-2, RBI (11), R, SB (3), BB

• Zechmann - 2-4, R, SB (6)

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

Kelsey Winters would get the nod to start the second game of the day and would promptly retire the first three batters of the game in the first inning. Much like the first game, Tampa would take advantage of heads up baserunning to take the early lead as Aubrey Zechmann would capitalize on a throwing error and speed around to score Tampa's first run. The Spartan offense would live for consistency in game two against the Cougars as they would put up at least one run in each of the first five innings of the game. However, the big blow would come in the fifth when the Spartans would capitalize on back-to-back RBI doubles from Brumbelow-Neal and Salisbury to hang a three on the scoreboard to extend their lead to 7-0. Winters' third start of the season would go exactly as planned as the Cougars were unable to get on the scoreboard until they were faced with their final out of the game. Winters would finish the job to grab her first career complete game.

INSIDE THE STATS: