CLEARWATER, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team dominated on day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Indianapolis and West Georgia. The Spartans set a school record as they’ve shutout the first four opponents to start the season. UT will face off against two top-ten opponents tomorrow afternoon in Clearwater.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):

Final: Tampa 6 (W: Makaleigh Dooley, 2-0), Indianapolis 0 (L: Halie Waters 0-1)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (3-0), University of Indianapolis Greyhounds (0-1)
Location: Eddie C. Moore Complex || Clearwater, Fla.
All-Time Series: The Spartans have won all three meetings in the series, out-scoring the Greyhounds 19-2.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

TOP 1st: The Spartans’ freshman shortstop, Stephanie Balmer, led off the game with a single down the left-field line and advanced to second on aggressive base-running. Two batters later, Balmer scored on a sacrifice fly from Sam Worrell. 

TOP 5th: Indianapolis recorded two outs to begin the inning, but Tampa went on a two-out rally as Emalee Jansen singled and stole her first career base to move into scoring position. Balmer walked, and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Cristina Clauberg plated two runs on a two-out base knock and moved to second base on the throw. The Greyhounds’ pitching staff allowed one walk, one hit-by-pitch and three wild pitches in the fifth inning. Worrell reached first on a dropped third-strike, which scored Clauberg from third. 

TOP 7th: Clauberg walked to lead-off the inning and scored on Worrell‘s first home-run as a Spartan. The transfer from USF extended the UT lead to 6-0 with a drive to left field; the senior logged three RBI in game one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Makaleigh Dooley pitched her second complete game; seven innings with 12 strikeouts, the senior threw 12-plus strikeouts only three times last season. 
• Clauberg went 1-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and one walk.
• Jansen recorded the first stolen base of her career in the fifth inning.
• Tampa worked five walks in the contest, while Dooley did not walk a Greyhound batter. However, Dooley plunked three batters in the game.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• For the first time in school history, the Spartans blanked three straight opponents to open the season. 
• Dooley has allowed only three hits in two starts.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):

Final: Tampa 6 (Corynn Miner, 2-0), West Georgia 0 (Morgan Goree, 0-1)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (4-0), University of West Georgia Wolves (5-2)
Location: Eddie C. Moore Complex || Clearwater, Fla.
All-Time Series: The Spartans have a slight advantage over the Wolves, 5-3, as UT snapped a two game losing streak to UWG.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

BOT 3rd: Lexi Chevalier began the third inning with a laser to left field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Clauberg drove one past the third-basemen into left field, and pinch-runner Mackenzie Allen raced around third to score the first run of the ball-game. 

BOT 5th: Chevalier started the fifth inning with a pop-up to left field, however, the West Georgia out-fielder misplayed the fly ball. The freshman hustled to third base on the Wolves’ error and scored on a phenomenal piece of hitting by Lauren Reyes. Reyes drove the outside pitch to right-center field to give UT a 2-0 lead over UWG, and the junior advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Clauberg beat the throw at first base for an infield single and Reyes hustled home from second base while the pitcher made the attempt to first.

BOT 6th: With two outs and runners at the corners, Chevalier stepped to the plate to cap off her career-night. Breanna Taphouse scored on a wild pitch, and Lauren Pascoe moved to second base where she watched Chevalier‘s first career home-run, which was blasted into deep left-center to extend Tampa’s lead to 6-0.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Miner pitched her second complete game in as many starts; seven innings with seven strikeouts and the sophomore allowed only three hits and two walks.
• The Wolves’ pitching staff did not walk any Spartan batters.
• Clauberg went 2-3, and recorded two RBI for the second consecutive game.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• For the first time in school history, the Spartans’ pitching staff has shutout four straight opponents to open the season.
• Chevalier, like Bailey Phillips last season, logged a home-run as a freshman.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will face off against two top-ten opponents on Saturday afternoon, as first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. against No. 8 West Chester.

• Saturday (2/9):
  • 2:30 p.m. vs. #8 West Chester (PA)
  • 6:30 p.m. vs. #2 Southern Arkansas
• Sunday (2/10):
  • 11:00 a.m. vs. #22 Valdosta State

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