Strong Offensive Effort Carries Spartans to a Sweep of the Sharks

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team complete the sweep of Nova Southeastern behind great pitching in game one and a consistent offensive effort in game two.

Records: Tampa 26-8, (13-5), Nova Southeastern 22-18, (8-10)

Location: Naimoli Field l Tampa, FL.

History: Today's double header marked 74th and 75th meetings between the Sharks and Spartans with Tampa holding extending their all-time series lead to 45-30.

Final Game One: Tampa 3, Nova Southeastern 1

Final Game Two: Tampa 7, Nova Southeastern 1

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:

The Spartans fell behind early in the first game of the day after the Sharks were able to take advantage of a fielding error by the Spartans to grab the early 1-0 lead. The Sharks were threatening further as they were able to load the bases with two outs in the same inning, but Holly Steffus was able to calmly slam the door shut before any more damage was done. The Spartans would be the next to score, and would do so in the third inning as Cam Feast laced a base hit to tie the game. The scoring wasn't done there as the Spartans were able to push a couple more runs across with the help of a pair of miscues from the Sharks. With Steffus having allowed five hits through three innings, the Spartans would turn to Gwen McGinnis in the fourth to see off the rest of the game. McGinnis would swiftly move through her first three innings leaving the Sharks with only one opportunity left to tie the game. In the seventh, the Sharks would get the tying run on base with two outs, but McGinnis would once again come through for the Spartans by striking out the final hitter of the game to seal it for the Spartans.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Steffus - 3.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 SO, BB

• McGinnis - W (17-3): 4.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 SO, 0 BB

• Feast - 2-3, RBI (13), R

• Johns - 1-2, RBI (8)

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:

Holly Steffus got the start again in the second game of the day, and unlike the first game she would get some early run support from the offense. The scoring would get started with an RBI triple off the bat of Cam Feast and again two batters later with an RBI single from Joey Trawick. Now pitching with a lead, Steffus would show absolutely no ill effects from getting pulled from the first game, as she would carry a perfect game into the fifth inning and allow only one baserunner through six innings. The Spartans would not settle with just the two runs though, as Trawick would smack a two run double to left center to bring the Spartan lead to 4-0. The Spartans would continue to add to the lead as Abbey Johns would record an RBI single in the foruth, Kelsey Winters would hit an RBI double to deep center in the fifth, and Bella Campbell would come through with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth. Tampa would comfortably hold on to win the game in the seventh despite losing the shutout bid, and would finish off their third sweep of conference play. 

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• Steffus - W (6-1): 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 SO, 0 BB

• Trawick - 3-3, 3 RBI (7), 2B (4), R; First career multi-hit and first career multi-RBI game

• Feast - 1-2, RBI (14), 3B (3), 2 R, 2 BB

() - Season Totals

UP NEXT: The Spartans kick off their second consecutive conference home series as Rollins pays Tampa a visit starting Friday, April 17 at 6:00pm.