TAMPA, FLa.—The Barry Buccaneers dropped the series finale to the seventh-ranked Tampa Spartans 4-3 on Sunday morning at Vince Naimoli Family Stadium.
The Bucs (21-11, 9-3 SSC) jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four innings. In the second, the Bucs loaded the bases with two outs and Alexis Kent drove in Britney Pugh with a single to left, but were unable to get anymore.
In the fourth inning, Pugh walked to lead off and Kelly Martinez drove in pinch runner Kate Hehre with a double to right center. Kent, again, drove in a run with a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Martinez.
But trailing 3-1 in the fifth, the Spartans (19-8, 7-5 SSC) loaded the bases with two outs as Kayleen Boatwright singled, Katie Bannon reached on a throwing error and Megan Burke walked. Stacey Piagno drove in two with a single to right and Burke came across on another throwing error.
Kayla Cox (14-4) sat the Bucs down in order in the sixth and seventh to preserve the lead. Cox struck out five, a season-low, and allowed three earned runs in a seven-inning game for the first time in her career.
Camille Czarnecki (5-3) took the loss for the Bucs, despite allowing just one earned run.
The Bucs return home to host the 10th-ranked Rollins Tars on Thursday and Friday.
(03/24/13 at Tampa, FL)
Tampa 4, Barry 3
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Barry................... 010 200 0 - 3 6 2 (21-11, 9-3 SSC)
Tampa............... 001 030 X - 4 7 0 (19-8, 7-5 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Camille Czarnecki; Britney Pugh(5) and Kayla Monroy. Tampa - Kayla Cox and Taylor Storey.
Win-Kayla Cox(14-4) Loss-Camille Czarnecki(5-3) T-1:32 A-54
Weather: lugubrious
