LAKELAND, Fla.—The eighth-ranked Barry Buccaneers broke out the bats on Sunday to complete a three-game Sunshine State Conference softball sweep of the Florida Southern Moccasins at Barnett Field, rallying for 4-3 win in game one and blasting out a 6-2 game two.
In game one, Alexis Yohe (9-2) out-dueled Christine Clark (14-4) to win 4-3. Yohe allowed three runs on five hits and a walk and struck out five.
The Bucs spotted the Mocs (21-7, 4-5 SSC) a 3-0 lead as Karlyn Scott scored from second on a sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning and Steph Graziani laced a two-run single in the fifth.
But in the sixth, the Bucs (25-5, 8-1 SSC) finally broke through against Clark. Sarah Broeseker singled to lead off the inning and scored on a base hit by Brianna Smith.
In the seventh, Broeseker delivered a two-run double to tie the game, advancing to third on the throw, and then scored on an infield single by Collins.
Clark surrendered the four runs (three earned) on nine hits and struck out three to take her second straight loss in the series.
In the finale, the Bucs scored three quick runs in the first and added another trio in the third and Smith held the Mocs off the board until the fifth inning to ring up her 13th win.
In the first inning, Broeseker and Collins led off with singles and Smith and Julie Brito drove in runs with base hits. A third run scored on a passed ball by FSC catcher Devin Matthews.
The Bucs got three more in the third, but it could have been much more. Alyssa Goldsmith singled to start things off and Smith reach on an error by second baseman Graziani. After a fielder’s choice erased Goldsmith at the plate, Brito laced an RBI double over the head of leftfielder Sam Gale to score Smith and Tabor stopped at third. Amber Durkin followed with a single up the middle to plate Tabor, but Brito got caught in a rundown and erased at third. Cassy Zamora delivered an RBI single to bring in Durkin.
Smith pitched four scoreless innings, running her total to 34 straight without allowing a run, before the Mocs finally broke through. Christie Bailey singled to start the fifth and Gale followed with an RBI double. In the sixth inning, the Mocs loaded the bases with two outs and Bailey hit a dribbler on the infield that brought in Randi Grimes from third. Smith retired the side in order in the seventh to clinch the win.
Smith (13-3) worked her 15th complete game in 15 starts, allowing two runs on eight hits. She struck out one. Lauren Wolfe (5-3) took the loss for the Mocs. She allowed six runs (three earned) on nine hits in 2.2 innings.
The win marked two notable occasions for the Buccaneers. It was the 250th career win for head coach Danielle Penner who now has an all-time record of 250-102 in her seventh season at the helm. It was also the first time in nine seasons since the SSC has gone to a three-game conference series that there has been a sweep when the Bucs and Mocs got together.
On the day, Broeseker led the offense with five hits in eight trips to the plate. She had a double, scored three runs and drove in two. Natalia Ojeda, Collins, Smith and Brito all rapped out three safeties as the Bucs compiled 22 hits and scored 10 runs on the day.
(03/18/12 at Lakeland, FL)
Barry 4, Florida Southern 3 (Game 1)
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Barry................... 000 001 3 - 4 9 0 (24-5, 7-1 SSC)
Florida Southern.... 000 120 0 - 3 5 2 (21-6, 4-4 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Alexis Yohe and Kayla Monroy. Florida Southern - Christine Clark and Devin Mathews.
Win-Alexis Yohe(9-2) Loss-Christine Clark(14-4) T-1:37
Weather: 80, fair, 8 mph wind
Barry 6, Florida Southern 2 (Game 2)
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Barry................... 303 000 0 - 6 13 1 (25-5, 8-1 SSC)
Florida Southern.... 000 011 0 - 2 8 1 (21-7, 4-5 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Brianna Smith and Kayla Monroy. Florida Southern - Lauren Wolfe; Liana Derringer(3); Sam Gale(5) and Devin Mathews.
Win-Brianna Smith(13-3) Loss-Lauren Wolfe(5-3) T-1:41 A-174
Weather: 83, partly cloudy, 12 mph wind