Spartans Spectacular In Senior Day Showing
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa (35-7, 16-5 SSC) softball team swept the Florida Southern Moccasins (20-20, 8-10 SSC) in a doubleheader series taking the first game by a 3-1 score and the second in a 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon at the UT softball field.
The Moccasins made a quick appearance on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning after a single from Heather Raulerson brought Randi Grimes around the bases marking the score 1-0 in favor of Florida Southern.
Tampa was swift to answer in the bottom of the third as senior Brittany Hipple stepped up to the challenge driving a hit down the left side bringing Susan Jallo to home plate knotting the score 1-1.
Kari Walsh put pressure on the visiting team in her last regular season home game as she threw three strike outs to the Mocs moving her record to 13-3 on the year.
The Spartans set itself apart in the bottom of the fifth inning as back to back hits from Hipple and Jallo rallied the squad putting two more runs on the board to grab a 3-1 lead which would eventually account for the win.
Julie Wisniewski and Elizabeth Milhan recorded a team-best two hits in the first outing as Becky Vyzas, Jallo and Hipple all grabbed a team-high one RBI.
Hipple and Jallo carried their offensive momentum into the second meeting as the Spartans wasted no time posting a run in the bottom of the first thanks to a single from the Venice, Fla. native bringing in the speedy five-foot-eight third baseman around the bags.
Jallo and Vyzas would go on to record runs in the bottom of the third to increase to score to 3-0 after the Spartan batting round. Tampa added to the score in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning plating two and one run respectively, giving Tampa an easy 6-1 win.
Brittany Joseph, Jallo and Vyzas all tabbed a team-high two hits in the second meeting while Joseph grabbed a team-best two RBI.
Behind the plate, Vyzas posed a defensive presence as she caught two Moccasins stealing in the match-up, limiting any Florida Southern come back.
Deanna Henriott was stellar once again as she surpassed Paula Proch in the Tampa record books pitching her way to 65 career wins taking the number one position in school history as she posted four strike outs while allowing just five hits pushing her record to 22-4 on the season.
Tampa will be back in action Thursday, April 21st as the team travels to St. Petersburg, Fla. to take on Eckerd College in a doubleheader meeting with games beginning 6 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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