MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry softball team (2-0) opened the 2014 season with a doubleheader sweep of the Flagler Saints, taking game one 5-1 and the nightcap 8-4.
In game one, Taylor Sabol came in to pitch three scoreless innings to earn the save as the Bucs won 5-1. Barry broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring three unearned runs off Kalyn Loverich (0-1) thanks to a pair of errors by Saints’ third baseman Maloree Escue.
In the first inning, Megan Copeland walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Julie Brito. Barry added a run in the third when Hunter Mars scored on a sacrifice fly by Camille Czarnecki (1-0).
In the sixth, Brito led off with a double. Czarnecki moved pinch runner Kate Hehre to third with a bunt and reach when Escue threw it away at first. Hehre scored on a bunt single by Alexis Kent. Christal Cruz, running for Czarnecki, scored on a sacrifice fly by Kristina Pazienza and Cheyanne Head came around on another throwing error by Escue.
Czarnecki earned the win, going four innings. She gave up a run on three hits and a walk and struck out two. Sabol gave up two hits and a walk and struck out three to earn the save. Loverich went the distance, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks. She fanned three.
The game was a big one for Barry head coach Danielle Penner, who earned her 300th career win in the opener. She now has a 301-128 record as she enters her ninth season.
In game two, the Bucs jumped out to a 4-0 lead and appeared to have the game well in hand. They scored three in the first. Kayla Ogle walked and stole second. Copeland cashed her in with a single to left-center. One out after a walk to Brito, Kent was hit by Tinsley Smith to load the bases. Cheyanne Head dropped down a perfect bunt on a squeeze play to score Copeland and beat it out for a single. Lexi Corrente knocked in Brito with a sacrifice fly.
Hehre scored a run in the fifth when Molly Whittington and Christen Moon combined for two errors on one play on the left side of the Saints’ infield.
Sabol carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, leaving after issuing a walk and giving up a single to Darcey Cochran. Britney Pugh (1-0) came on in relief and was tagged by Mackenzie Conley for a three-run homer and Moon for an RBI double to knot the game at 4-4.
But Barry came back to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ogle walked, stole second and scored from third on a wild pitch by Katelynn Smith (0-1). With two outs, Head ripped an RBI double and Corrente followed with a two-run single.
The Bucs travel to Clearwater, Fla., next weekend for the Eckerd College Invitational at Eddie C. Moore Park. In addition to a rematch with the Saints, the Bucs will also face fifth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic, West Florida, Lindenwood and Colorado Christian.
(02/01/14 at Miami Shores, FL)
Barry 5, Flagler 1 (Game 1)
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Flagler............. 000 100 0 - 1 5 2 (0-1)
Barry................ 101 003 X - 5 5 1 (1-0)
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Pitchers: Flagler - Kalyn Loverich and Molly Whittington. Barry - Camille Czarnecki; Taylor Sabol(5) and Alexis Kent.
Win-Camille Czarnecki(1-0) Save-Taylor Sabol(1) Loss-Kalyn Loverich(0-1) T-2:05
Weather: Glorious
Barry 8, Flagler 4 (Game 2)
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Flagler............. 000 004 0 - 4 5 2 (0-2)
Barry................ 300 014 X - 8 8 0 (2-0)
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Pitchers: Flagler - Tinsley Smith; Katelynn Smith(6) and Kaitlyn Bannon. Barry - Taylor Sabol; Britney Pugh(7) and Alexis Kent.
Win-Britney Pugh(1-0) Loss-Katelynn Smith(0-1) T-2:02 A-214
HR FLG - Mackenzie Conley (1).
Weather: radiant