ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Barry University Buccaneers closed out the regular season on a six-game winning streak after sweeping the Eckerd Tritons in Sunshine State Conference softball action at the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday. The Bucs took game one 11-1 and the finale 8-0 in five innings.
In the first game, the Bucs (40-9, 19-5 SSC) struck first on Kayla Monroy’s RBI double in the fourth inning. Kelly Martinez walked and stole second and Monroy delivered the run with her second double of the game.
After the Tritons (12-43, 4-20 SSC) knotted the game in the bottom of the fourth at 1-1 when Alex Sasso singled to drive in Sabrina Lolo, the Bucs scored twice in the fifth to take a lead they would not relinquish. Sarah Broeseker singled with one out and Grace Collins lined a double into the left centerfield gap for what would prove to be the winning run. Collins came around on a base hit by Brianna Smith after swiping third.
After tacking on two more runs in the sixth, with RBI for Broeseker and Smith, Barry broke the game open in the seven, pushing across six runs. Martinez singled and Monroy walked to start the frame and both trotted home on Cassy Zamora’s three-run homer. Collins, Smith and Jessica Tabor each tacked on single runs.
Alexis Yohe (15-4) benefitted from the offensive explosion. She held the Tritons to four hits and an unearned run in seven innings, striking out five. Sasso (1-8) took the loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits and a walk in 5.1 innings.
In game three, Whitney Bernier (5-12) held the Bucs in check for the first three innings, but watched them explode for eight runs in the last two as she took the loss. Brianna Smith (22-5) pitched her fourth one-hitter and 15th shutout. She allowed a lead-off single to Brittany Mitchell in the first inning, then set the Tritons down in order the rest of way, retiring 15 in a row.
Smith also started a six-run rally in the fourth inning. She reached after being hit by Bernier to lead off the frame and scored the first run on base hit by Alyssa Goldsmith. After Bernier got two outs, She walked Zamora to load the bases for Monroy and the Buccaneer catcher came through again with a three-run double. Broeseker drove in one run with a single and Smith capped the rally with another RBI single.
In the fifth, Goldsmith reached on an error by shortstop Sarah Agnew and Martinez knocked a double into the right centerfield gap. After a wild pitch moved Martinez to third, she scored on a popup to shallow left. Agnew made the over-the-shoulder catch, but Martinez was able to tag and score. Smith set the Tritons down in order in the fifth to seal the win.
Bernier gave up eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and four walks.
NCAA Tournament announcements are made on Monday, April 30 at 10:00 am on NCAA.com. The Bucs, who were ranked fourth in the last set of regional rankings should earn another tournament bid, their second in a row and 16th in program history.
(04/28/12 at St. Petersburg, FL)
Barry 11, Eckerd 1 (Game 1)
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Barry............... 000 122 6 - 11 15 2 (39-9, 18-5 SSC)
Eckerd.............. 000 100 0 - 1 4 1 (12-42, 4-19 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Alexis Yohe and Kayla Monroy. Eckerd - Alex Sasso; Brittany Mitchell(6); Nazley Wilson(7) and Ashleigh Bynum.
Win-Alexis Yohe(15-4) Loss-Alex Sasso(1-8) T-1:49
HR BU - Cassy Zamora (1).
Weather: Splendid
Mitchell faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Barry 8, Eckerd 0 (Game 2)
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Barry............... 000 62 - 8 7 0 (40-9, 19-5 SSC)
Eckerd.............. 000 00 - 0 1 1 (12-43, 4-20 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Brianna Smith and Kayla Monroy. Eckerd - Whitney Bernier and Nicole Warder.
Win-Brianna Smith(22-5) Loss-Whitney Bernier(5-12) T-1:13 A-80
Weather: Splendid