#15 Spartans Dominate Eckerd In Series Opener; Win School Record 36th Game
TAMPA Fla. - University of Tampa (36-7, 17-5 SSC) pitcher Deanna Henriott added to her national-leading strikeout total as the No. 15 Spartans needed just five innings to defeat Eckerd College (14-35, 2-17 SSC) by a 9-0 score in a Sunshine State Conference meeting at Turley Field on Thursday night.
The victory also set a new school record for wins in a season, surpassing the previous record of 35 that was achieved in both 2002 and 2008. Head coach Leslie Kanter was also in charge of both of those teams as well.
Henriott struck out seven Tritons in 4.0 innings of work as the junior returned to her hometown and improved her record to 23-4 on the year. The SSC Pitcher of the Year candidate allowed just one hit prior to giving way to Kari Walsh for the fifth inning. Henriott's strikeout total now stands at 251 for the season, which is also a UT record.
The Spartan bats were equally as impressive with a 12-hit showing. After crossing a run in the first and fourth innings respectively, UT plated seven runs in the fifth to break the game open.
Becky Vyzas tied the Tampa single-season record with her seventh home run of the year while freshman Katlyn Raatz also smacked her fourth of the season. Raatz finished with two hits and also drove in a team-high four. Vyzas finished with three RBI.
Susan Jallo added a team-leading three hits as she and Brittany Garcia each scored twice. Freshman Julia Morrow also collected her first collegiate hit as a pinch-hitter.
The teams will finish the series with a Friday doubleheader, beginning at 6 p.m., in the final regular season games for the Spartans. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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