Spartans Sweep Sharks on Senior Day
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 15 University of Tampa (28-8, 16-5 SSC) softball team swept a pair of games against Nova Southeastern University (23-26, 6-18 SSC) at Naimoli Family Field on Saturday.
Four Spartans were honored between games, as Katie Bannon, Brittany Garcia, Stacy Piagno, and Brie Walton all played their final regular season game at UT.
Kayla Cox started game one for the Spartans and earned her 21st victory of the season. She tossed 7.0 complete innings with 10 strikeouts while allowing two unearned runs on three hits. Her record improves to 21-4 on the season.
The Sharks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Shelby Talon came around to score for Nova as a result of a fielding error.
Tampa responded in the bottom of the third with two runs in the inning. Walton scored the first run on an RBI groundout by Meagan Burke. Piagno followed with an RBI base hit to plate Bannon and give the Spartans a 2-1 advantage.
Lorena Spaulding scored in the top of the fifth on a throwing error by the Spartans and tied the game 2-2.
Burke delivered a clutch RBI base hit in the bottom of the inning that scored Walton and reclaimed the lead for Tampa 3-2, which would be the final score.
Julia Morrow started the second game where she went 7.0 innings with nine strikeouts and allowing two unearned runs. She earned her seventh win of the year and now holds an overall record of 7-4.
Tampa took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Piagno that scored Bannon.
The Sharks responded in the top of the third with two runs to take a 2-1 advantage. Marissa Raimo and Spaulding each scored in the inning as a result of a fielding error by the Spartans.
Piagno delivered a clutch two out RBI base hit in the bottom of the fifth. Kayleen Boatwright came around to score for Tampa and tie the game at 2-2.
Boatwright tripled home two runs in the bottom of the sixth to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead. Brie Walton and Kandi Kuder scored on what would be the game winning base hit.
UT will return to action Friday afternoon at Lynn for the first of a three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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