ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Barry University softball team (29-2, 7-0 SSC) continued on the winning path with a 9-0 win over the Eckerd Tritons (8-36, 2-8 SSC) in Sunshine State Conference action on Saturday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Shyla Rider paved the way for Barry going 4-for-5 at the plate. She ended up one base shy of hitting for the cycle after belting two triples, a double, and a single. Rider also finished with three RBI and scored three times.
Barry took an early 2-0 lead to start the game. Rider led the game off with a stand-up double. After swiping third, she was singled in by Ashley Likens. Amanda Golez followed two batters later with an RBI double to make the score 2-0.
After three consecutive scoreless innings, the Bucs scored seven runs in the last three. Likens and Megan Young had RBI hits in the five to extend the Buccaneer lead to 4-0. However, the scoring wasn’t over for the Bucs. A leadoff single by Ali Perantoni helped ignited a three-run sixth. Rider followed with an RBI triple and Young doubled in a pair of runs for a 7-0 lead.
The Bucs finally wrapped up the game scoring in the seventh. Natalie Heeley led off with a single and Katie Turecki followed with a walk to put two runners on. Rider then plated the two runs with a two-out RBI triple, her second of the game, that led to the final 9-0 score.
Amber Jack (16-0) tossed a four-hit shutout and struck out seven without allowing a run or a walk to earn the win for Barry. Melissa Flint (2-13) went the first 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits to suffer the Eckerd loss, while Ashley Palmer tossed the final 2.2 innings and gave up five runs on six hits.
The Buccaneers scattered 14 hits over seven innings led by Riders four, while Young and Likens each added two hits apiece. Young also added three RBI while Likens recorded two. Aleena Oimoen recorded two singles to lead the Tritons offensively.
Both teams will return to action on Sunday, Mar. 30 to close out the three-game series with a 1 pm doubleheader.
Barry 9, Eckerd 0 (03/29/2008 at St. Petersburg, Fla.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry............... 200 023 2 - 9 14 0 (29-2, 7-0 SSC)
Eckerd.............. 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (8-36, 2-8 SSC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Barry - Amber Jack. Eckerd - Melissa Flint; Ashley Palmer(5).
Win-Amber Jack(16-0) Loss-Melissa Flint(2-13) T-1:42 A-58
Game: SB0329