MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers grabbed a lead but could not hold on and fell 2-1 to the Tampa Spartans in the opener of their Sunshine State Conference softball series at Buccaneer Field on Friday night.
The Bucs (30-6, 11-2 SSC) broke the scoring ice in the fourth inning when Grace Collins singled, was bunted over to second, stole third and came home on throwing error by Spartan catcher Becky Vyzas.
The lead stood until the Spartans (27-4, 12-1 SSC) broke through in the seventh inning. Vyzas drew a lead-off walk and scored with two out when Taylor Storey, who came into the contest hitting just .182, lifted a single down the left-field line.
Storey came through again in the ninth. After a leadoff single by Megan Burke and a sacrifice, Storey singled up the middle to drive in the game-winner.
Deanna Henriott (16-3) picked up the win, holding the Bucs to six hits in nine innings and striking out 11. Brianna Smith (16-4) lost for just the first time in conference, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks and striking out five.
The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
Tampa 2, Barry 1 (03/30/12 at Miami Shores, FL)
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Tampa............... 000 000 101 - 2 6 1 (27-4, 12-1 SSC)
Barry................. 000 100 000 - 1 6 2 (30-6, 11-2 SSC)
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Pitchers: Tampa - Deanna Henriott and Becky Vyzas. Barry - Brianna Smith and Kayla Monroy.
Win-Deanna Henriott(16-3) Loss-Brianna Smith(16-4) T-1:59 A-71
Weather: conflagrant