MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The #2 Barry University softball team (34-2, 12-0 SSC) managed to close out a Sunshine State Conference series sweep over the Saint Leo Lions (29-10, 8-4 SSC) on Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field. The Buccaneers squeezed out an 8-7 win in the first game, but dominated the nightcap with a 12-0 win in five innings to improve their current win streak to 33 consecutive games.
Amber Jack (20-0) picked up both wins in the SSC doubleheader and struck out six, while allowing just one earned run to remain undefeated in the circle. She tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap. Shyla Rider went 4-for-7 and drove in four runs to lead the Bucs offensively.
Despite allowing more runs in a single game than they had all season, the Buccaneers capitalized on a Lion mistake in the late innings to win the first game 8-7. Saint Leo’s Amanda Patrick started the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first to give SLU a 1-0 lead. However, the Bucs managed to even the score in the bottom of the inning. Rider led off with a single and Megan Young ended up plating the tying score with an RBI single.
After s scoreless second, Barry took advantage of two Saint Leo errors and put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the third for a 3-1 lead. Cristina DeTagle reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on an errand throw. She later scored on an Ashley Likens RBI double to give Barry the lead. After advancing to second in Young’s at-bat, she scored on an Amanda Goelz bunt single.
The seesaw battle continued when Saint Leo tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth. Tatiana Casis reached on a leadoff single and then Ashley Urbanik homered in the tying score. Another scoreless inning went by before the Bucs erupted for a four-run fifth inning. Goelz drove in a pair of runs, while Ali Perantoni and Holli Davis drove in single runs.
Heading into the top of the seventh, Barry held a 7-3 lead until Saint Leo ignited a two-out four-run rally to tie the game 7-7. Patrick tripled in a pair of runs, while Casis and Ally Maddox each drove in single runs. In the bottom of the inning, Barry managed to come away with the win after Goelz, who reached on a fielder’s choice, score on an Urbanik wild pitch to end the game.
Urbanik (19-6) suffered the loss for Saint Leo giving up eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits and struck out two, while Jack (19-0) tossed 0.1 innings to earn the win. Young started the game for Barry in the circle, but received a no-decision after giving up six runs and striking out 12. Patrick went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs to pace the Lion offense, while Casis and Maddox added two hits apiece and Urbanik had a pair of RBI. Four Buccaneers recorded two hits in the game, but Goelz collected three RBI to pace the offense.
In the series finale, the Buccaneers scored early and often for a 12-0 win in five innings. Young had a groundout RBI to give Barry a 1-0 lead and Likens scored on another Lion wild pitch for a 2-0 lead in the first. Barry added three more runs in the second, five in the third and two in the fourth to account for the 12 runs.
Rider went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in four runs for Barry, while Natalie Heeley belted her second career two-run homer, while going 2-for-2 at the plate. The bottom half of the Buccaneer batting order did most of the work for Barry with Perantoni, Jack and Emily Witcher each having RBI hits for the Bucs.
Jack (20-0) tossed the five-inning no-hit shutout and struck out six to pick up her second win on the day, while Kiki VonHold (7-4) gave up seven runs (five earned) in 2.1 innings to suffer the Saint Leo loss.
The Buccaneers will return to action on Tuesday, Apr. 8 hosting Palm Beach Atlantic at 5 pm in a South Region doubleheader. It will also be senior day for the Bucs as they recognize their four seniors Holli Davis, Cristina DeTagle, Ali Perantoni, and Danielle Rezendes.
Game 1
Barry 8, Saint Leo 7 (04/05/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
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Saint Leo........... 100 200 4 - 7 7 4 (27-9, 8-3 SSC)
Barry............... 102 040 1 - 8 10 0 (33-2, 11-0 SSC)
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Pitchers: Saint Leo - Ashley Urbanik. Barry - Megan Young; Amber Jack(7).
Win-Amber Jack(19-0) Loss-Ashley Urbanik(19-6) T-2:16 A-279
HR SLS - Amanda Patrick (1); Ashley Urbanik (1).
Game: SB0405A
Game 2
Barry 12, Saint Leo 0 (04/05/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
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Saint Leo........... 000 00 - 0 0 2 (29-10, 8-4 SSC)
Barry............... 235 2X - 12 11 0 (34-2, 12-0 SSC)
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Pitchers: Saint Leo - Kiki VonHolt; Ashley Urbanik(3); Ashton Whidden(4). Barry - Amber Jack.
Win-Amber Jack(20-0) Loss-Kiki VonHolt(7-4) T-1:33 A-279
HR BUS - Natalie Heeley (2).
Game: SB0405B