Softball Sweeps Bobcats To Open Season

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Brianna Smith picked up both wins and Jessica Tabor drove in four runs as the Barry Buccaneers opened the 2010 softball season with a 5-2, 11-9 doubleheader sweep of St. Thomas at Buccaneer Field on Saturday. The games were moved from St. Thomas to Barry due to construction at the Bobcats' facility.

In the opening game, Smith (2-0) pitched a complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. She walked two and struck out eight.

After the Bobcats (0-2) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Bucs (2-0) came back in the bottom of the frame to tie it up. Grace Collins walked and scored on a wind-blown triple by Tabor. Tabor came around one out later on an illegal pitch by Bobcat starter Gina Guffanti.

In the third, Tabor led off with a double and Stephany Soto came in to run for her. After Soto stole second, Amanda Goelz delivered the run with a single down the left field line.

Sara Hipson and Tabor added RBI singles in the sixth inning.

Guffanti (0-1) took the loss, going the distance and allowing five runs on eight hits. She struck out seven, but walked four.

In game two, the Bobcats jumped all over Buccaneer starter Paul Mackin in the early going, scoring once in the first and four in the second on a grand slam by Guffanti. The Bucs trailed 7-0 after the top of the third inning.

But Bucs scored in each of the next four frames and Smith came back on to toss 4.2 innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits and five walks as the Bucs completed the improbable comeback.

Cassie Zamora got things started for the Bucs with a one-out single in the third. After an error put runners at second and third, Sarah Broeseker got Barry on the board with a sacrifice fly to score Zamora. Tabor added an RBI double to make it 7-2.

After giving up another run in the fourth, the Bucs got three runs in the bottom of the inning. Goelz led off with a double and Julia Chongarlides came in to run. Taylor Newman dropped down a bunt, but the Bobcats were unable get Chrongarlides at third, leaving runners at the corner. Amber Durkin delivered an RBI single and Kayla Monroy had a sacrifice fly to plate Newman. After Zamora singled again, Collins dropped down a bunt and beat it out with Durkin scoring from second.

The Bucs gave up another run in the fifth, leaving them behind 9-5, but got two back in the bottom of the inning. Goelz singled and went to third on a botched bunt from Newman that left runners at second and third. Goelz scored on a wild pitch and Durkin drove in Newman with a double to trim the lead to two.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bucs pushed across four runs to take the lead. Soto walked and Collins beat out another bunt. Broeseker tied the game with a two-run triple down the right field line. Tabor knocked in Broeseker to give the Bucs the lead and Hipson, pinch-running for Tabor scored an insurance run on a fielder’s choice.

The Bucs host the Miles Golden Bears in a four-game set on Feb. 13-14, with the games starting at 3:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday.

(02/06/10 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
(Game 1)
Barry 5, St. Thomas 2
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St. Thomas.......... 200 000 0 - 2 4 1 (0-1)
Barry..................... 201 002 X - 5 8 2 (1-0)
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Battery: St. Thomas - Gina Guffanti and Jessica Vera. Barry - Brianna Smith and Emma Dunlap.
Win-Brianna Smith(1-0) Loss-Gina Guffanti(0-1) T-1:59

(Game 2)
Barry 11, St. Thomas 9
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St. Thomas.......... 142 110 0 - 9 5 2 (0-2)
Barry...................... 002 324 X - 11 13 1 (2-0)
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Battery: St. Thomas - Bianca Isolino; Amanda Heyl(5); Nikki Sanchez(6) and Jessica Vera.
Barry - Paula Mackin; Brianna Smith(3) and Kayla Monroy.
Win-Brianna Smith(2-0) Loss-Nikki Sanchez(0-1) T-2:09 A-73
HR STU - Gina Guffanti (1).
Weather: Blustry