Spartans Lose Late Lead; Fall to St. Leo to Open Conference Play

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The University of Tampa's Softball program has the walk-off magic work against them this time as they suffer a tough walk-off loss to St. Leo to kick off conference play. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Records: #4 Tampa 4-3, (0-1), #21 Saint Leo 8-2-1, (1-0)

Location: Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium l Saint Leo, FL. 

History: Tonight's game marks the 147th meeting between Tampa and St. Leo with Tampa holding a narrow series lead 75-72.

Final: #4 Tampa 2, #21 Saint Leo 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Tampa started the game off red hot as Kinnah Kreidler smacked a solo home run in the top of the first inning. This meant that Gwen McGinnis would step into the circle for the first time with a lead. McGinnis would spend most of her outing having to dance around runners on as the Lions were able to have a baserunner in all but one inning. Through the first five innings though, McGinnis and the Spartan defense worked well around the base runners, and were able to keep the Lions scoreless. However, in the sixth inning the damn broke as the Lions were able to tie the game 1-1 off a back breaking two out RBI. Tampa would take the lead back in the top of the seventh though through a Karlee Salisbury double good situational hitting that culminated with a Cam Feast sac fly. St. Leo would immediately threaten in the bottom of the 7th with a lead off double, and just two batters later, the Lions would hit a walk-off two run home run to win the game despite trailing most of the game.

INSIDE THE STATS:  

• McGinnis - L (3-2): 6.1 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 10 H, 4 SO

• Kreidler - 1-2, HR (2), RBI (6), BB

• Aubrey Zechmann - 1-3, SB (3)

• Salisbury - 2-3, 2B (2), R  

() - Season total

UP NEXT: The Spartans are back it tomorrow with a double-header against St. Leo starting at 1:00pm with the second game approximately 30 minutes after the first.