Spartans Split Saturday Doubleheader

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of Tampa softball team split the second day of the weekend tournament by taking the first game against Drury University (4-3) and falling to Florida Tech (5-4) in the second match.

The first game featured a pitchers duel between Kari Walsh and Brittany Davis. The lefty led the Spartans to a shutout victory while recording five strikeouts and allowing three hits to the Panthers. Davis pitched well for Drury, allowing one run. Cassie Barnes started off the fourth with a double to left center and was driven in by an Ashley Carrea double to score the lone run of the contest.

In the second game, the Spartans were unable to find a match for the Panthers. FIT started its scoring in the second with a two-run double off the bat of Tyler Miller. The Panthers added another two runs in the form of a Kara Dickinson homerun in the third inning. The Panthers would add another five in the fifth to hand the Spartans the loss. Brianna Barth threw a one-hit performance to aid in the Panther's victory.

The Spartans wrap up the tournament with an 11:30 a.m. meeting against West Florida and end the weekend with a matchup against No. 6 Valdosta State at 2 p.m.

Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com. Fans may also follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers eScores, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.