#10 Tampa Earns Split On Opening Day as Deanna Henriott Sets Strikeout Record

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The No. 10 University of Tampa (1-1) softball team opened the 2009 season with 7-6 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic (10-5) in 10 innings, but rebounded to top Armstrong Atlantic State University (4-1) by a score of 8-4. The games were part of the annual Eckerd Tourney, which is held at the Ed C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater.

In game one, freshman Becky Vyzas led the Spartan offense with a 3-3 effort at the plate. The catcher from Tampa drove in three runs and also connected on a sixth inning home run. She also scored a run and smacked a double. Michele Horan also added three hits while Ashley Arcuri and Samantha Becker each had two.

Heather VanLandingham earned the start for UT and went six innings. Deanna Henriott also pitched 2.2 innings in relief for the Spartans.

Against AASU in the second game, Tampa scored two runs in the second and third innings and put the game away with a three-run fourth inning. Kallan Casey drove in two runs as Samantha Becker connected on three hits for UT.

Henriott started and went the distance for her first complete game of the season. In seven innings, the sophomore from St. Petersburg also set a new UT record with 18 strikeouts.

Tampa is back in action on Saturday at the Eckerd Tourney as it meets Florida Tech and Saint Leo at 9 and 11 a.m., respectively.