MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers (16-8, 3-3 SSC) spilt a Sunshine State Conference softball doubleheader with the ninth-ranked Tampa Spartans, dropping the first game 4-1, but bouncing back to take the final game 5-4 in nine innings.
FIRST GAME
In the first game, Julia Morrow struck out 15 and allowed just two hits to earn the win in the circle for the Spartans (17-4, 9-3 SSC).
The Spartans struck first in the fourth inning off Britney Pugh (5-2). Megan Burke led off with a single and scored on a hit by Lindsay Dring. They added three runs in the seventh as Kandi Kuder and Bre Setree had RBI doubles.
The Bucs plated their only run in the seventh as pinch-hitter Camille Czarnecki connected for her first homer of the season. It was just the second earned run that Morrow has allowed all season.
Pugh went the distance for the Bucs, giving up four runs on nine hits and four walks. She struck out four.
SECOND GAME
Julie Brito put the Bucs on top in the first inning with a grand slam. Kayla Ogle, Megan Copeland and Hunter Mars all had singles to load the bases. Brito connected for her third homer of the year after fouling off five pitches.
The Spartans chipped back. Dring doubled in the fourth and scored on a single by Jenna Halper. In the seventh. With one out, Halper singled and Kelsey Humphrey ripped a pinch-hit double down the left field line. Kayleen Boatwright followed with a single to left to score Halper. Pugh came on in relief of Taylor Sabol (6-4) to walk Kuder and strike out Burke. With two outs, Pugh got Setree to hit a one-hopper to second base, but the Bucs were unable to make the play and the Spartans scored two runs to tie the game. Sabol came back in to strike out Dring to end the inning.
In the ninth, Alexis Kent singled with one out down the right field line and Christal Crus came in to run. Ogle had a bunt single and Copeland moved the runners with a sacrifice. Hunter Mars reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases and with two outs, Cruz scored on a wild pitch by Morrow.
Sabol went 8.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk and struck out five, to pick up her team-leading sixth win. The Bucs hung the loss on Kayla Cox (8-3), the National Pitcher of the Year. She gave up five runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out nine. It was just the second time in her career that she allowed five runs.
The Bucs host the Lions of Molloy College on Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 4:00 pm in a non-conference doubleheader before heading to Rollins on the weekend to continue conference play.
(03/16/14 at Miami Shores, FL)
Tampa 4, Barry 1 (Game 1)
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Tampa............... 000 100 3 - 4 9 0 (17-3, 9-2 SSC)
Barry................... 000 000 1 - 1 2 0 (15-8, 2-3 SSC)
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Pitchers: Tampa - Julia Morrow and Kandi Kuder. Barry - Britney Pugh and Alexis Kent.
Win-Julia Morrow(9-1) Loss-Britney Pugh(5-2) T-1:40
HR BARRY - Camille Czarnecki (1).
Weather: Clement
Barry 5, Tampa 4 (Game 2)
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Tampa............... 000 100 300 - 4 8 2 (17-4, 9-3 SSC)
Barry................... 400 000 001 - 5 8 4 (16-8, 3-3 SSC)
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Pitchers: Tampa - Kayla Cox; Julia Morrow(9) and Kandi Kuder. Barry - Taylor Sabol; Britney Pugh(9) and Alexis Kent.
Win-Taylor Sabol(6-4) Loss-Kayla Cox(8-3) T-2:18 A-68
HR BARRY - Julie Brito (3).
Weather: murky