Spartans Split Double Header But Clinch Series Against Barry
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Softball team closes out the regular season by spliting the final double header of the season to win the final series of the season.
Records: Tampa 34-12, (21-9), Barry 25-30, (12-18)
Location: Buccaneer Field l Miami Shores, FL.
History: Today's double header marked 132nd and 133rd meetings between Barry and Tampa with the Spartans trailing the all-time series with the Bucs 55-78.
Final Game One: Tampa 11, Barry 4
Final Game Two: Tampa 1, Barry 3
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE:
Tampa started this final day of the regular season hot as they were able to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of an RBI single from Joey Trawick. Koda Travers started in the circle for the Spartans and showed her fight in the bottom of the first by leaving the bases loaded without allowing a run. Her teammates would give her more support in the second, as they scored three more runs highlighted by a two run single from Cam Feast to extend the Spartan lead to 4-0. The Bucs would begin to mount their comeback in the fourth inning as they were able to push across three runs of their own to bring it back to a one run game. The teams traded fifth inning runs, as Trawick led off the fifth inning with her first career home run for the Spartans and the Bucs scored on a passed ball. However, much like yesterday's game, the Spartans would break the game open with a big late four run inning, but this time it came in the sixth. The top of the sixth saw Kinnah Kreidler walk in her second run of the game which was promptly followed by a Hannah Yetter sac fly and a two run double from Olivia Feldman to leave the Spartans with a big 9-4 lead. The Spartans would go on to add a pair of further runs in the seventh, and Gwen McGinnis would put the finishing touches on the game in the seventh by leaving Bucs on every base.
INSIDE THE STATS:
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McGinnis - SV(3): 2.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 SO, 0 BB; Ties program record for single season saves.
- Travers - 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 SO, 5 BB
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Feast - 2-3, 3 RBI (21), BB
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Trawick - 4-4, HR (1), 2 RBI (16), 2 R
- Feldman - 2-3, 2 RBI (5), 2 2B (4), R
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO:
In the second game of the double header, Barry was able to hit the front early off of an errant throw from the Spartans. Though McGinnis started the game, Holly Steffus would take over in the second inning for Tampa and pitch a majority of the game for Tampa. The Spartan offense would come through in the fourth inning to tie the game at one, as Cam Feast would smack an RBI double to score Aubrey Zechmann all the way from first. The tie wouldn't last long though as Barry came through with a pair of runs to regrab the lead. Tampa would see their best opportunity to tie the game in the sixth inning as there were runners on second and third with only one out, but ultimately they were unable to push a run across and would fall short in the final regular season game.
INSIDE THE STATS:
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Steffus - L (6-2): 3.2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 SO, 3 BB
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Feast - 2-3, RBI (22), 2B (7)
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Zechmann - 3-3, R, SB (11); Recorded three hits in all three games against Barry while hitting .818.
() - Season Totals
UP NEXT: The Spartans will wait to see when and where they will be playing the NCAA Regional that starts Thursday, March 14; the Spartans were ranked fifth in the latest NCAA South Region rankings.
