No. 18 Blazers Take Series Against Spartans

ST.PETERSBURG, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team took on the No.18 Valdosta State Blazers in a doubleheader at Eckerd College. The Blazers took game one 6-2 in nine innings before running away with the second game 11-3 in five innings.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME ONE):

Final: Tampa 2 (L: Makaleigh Dooley, 2-3), Valdosta St. 6 (W: Carter, 3-0) 
Records: Spartans (2-4), Blazers (6-1)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Top 1st: The Blazers opened the scoring early as they drove in a pair of runs in the top half of the inning.

Bottom 2nd: The Spartans cut the deficit in half as Maddie Farrell started the inning with a single up the middle. Lauren Pascoe replaced her as a pinch runner and moved to third base on a throwing error by Valdosta St. With two outs in the inning, Lauren Reyes singled to center field to score Pascoe.

Bottom 7th: Down to their final two outs of the game, Reyes began the rally for UT with a double to center field. Reyes moved over to third on the next at-bat and came in to score on a pinch-hit single by Emily Proffit.

Top 9th: VSU took game one as they scored four runs in the inning to mark the difference.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Dooley tossed the nine innings as she recorded 11 strikeouts and tossed just one walk. 
• Proffit's single was her first as a Spartan.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• UT was held without a walk for the first time this season. 
• Tampa snapped a two-game streak without an extra-base hit with two doubles in the contest.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (GAME TWO):

Final (5 Innings): Tampa 3 (L: Sam Kaye 0-1), Valdosta St. 11 (W: Lamb 2-0) 
Records: Spartans (2-4), Blazers (7-1)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Bottom 1st: The Blazers started the second game like they did the first putting two runs on the board.

Top 3rd: Sahrina Cortes got the offense going for UT with a one-out double to center field. On the next at-bat, Cristina Clauberg placed two runners on as she singled to the shortstop. Both runners advanced one base on a groundout by Dooley. After Mackenzie Allen replaced Clauberg as a pinch runner, M. Farrell drove both runs in with a single to right-center.

Top 4th: Shelby Press was hit by a pitch with one out on the board and moved to second on a stolen base before taking third on a passed ball. With two outs on the board, Cortes gave Tampa their first lead of the day with a single up the middle that allowed Press to score easily. 

Bottom 4th: The Blazers were able to retake the lead as four runs crossed home plate.

Bottom 5th: The offense for VSU ended the game early as they put up five more runs to take the second game.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Cortes went 2 for 2 at the plate, drew a walk, scored a run and drove in another one. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa drew their seventh and eight walks of the season in the game.
• UT has recorded 10 extra base hits so far this season. 

UP NEXT:

The team will have a quick turnaround from today as they will be back on the field tomorrow afternoon. The Spartans host Young Harris for a doubleheader starting at noon.

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