CLEARWATER, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team spilt day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, as UT secured a victory over #8 West Chester but fell to #2 Southern Arkansas. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):

Final: Tampa 2 (W: Makaleigh Dooley, 3-0), #8 West Chester 1 (L: Reilly Gearhart, 0-3)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (5-0), #8 West Chester University (0-4)
Location: Eddie C. Moore Complex || Clearwater, Fla.
All-Time Series: The Spartans lead 2-0 in the all-time series; in 2007, Tampa defeated West Chester 11-2 in Plant City. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

TOP 1st: After posting 12 strikeouts in yesterday’s contest, Makaleigh Dooley began today’s game with a strikeout. The Golden Rams logged back-to-back doubles to take a first inning lead, 1-0.

BOT 3rd: With two outs, Cristina Clauberg sent a routine pop-up to the second-basemen however, the West Chester defender could not secure the “can-of-corn”. The error allowed Emalee Jansen to hustle around third and score from second base for Tampa’s first run. 

BOT 6th: Maddie Farrell walked to begin the inning and Lauren Pascoe came into the game as a pinch-runner. Pascoe moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third base on a Dooley single. With two runners in scoring position, Jansen stepped to the plate and cashed in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

TOP 7th: Dooley struck out the lead-off batter, but allowed a base hit to Courtney Stump. The Spartans defense was able to work out of the situation as Dooley got a force out at second, and finished the upset with a pop-up in the infield. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Makaleigh Dooley pitched her third complete game; seven innings with 10 strikeouts, the senior has struckout 10-plus in back-to-back starts.
• Jansen went 2-2, as she knocked in the game-winning run in the sixth.
• Tampa’s offense did not strikeout in the upset, while the Golden Rams struck out looking four times and totaled 10 K’s.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Dooley punched out 10-plus batters in seven games last season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):

Final: #2 So. Arkansas 8 (W: Sydney Wader, 2-1), Tampa 0 (L: Corynn Miner, 2-1)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (5-1), #2 Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (5-2)
Location: Eddie C. Moore Complex || Clearwater, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa won the first two games in the series, however, the Muleriders won the last meeting in 2006.
Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

BOT 1st: The Muleriders’ lead-off hitter Sarah Evans worked a walk to begin the game, and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. SAU’s Faith Otts flew out to deep left-field while Evans tagged at second base, an errant throw from Lauren Reyes allowed Evans to turn around third and score on the aggressive base-running. 

BOT 4th: Tampa kept the game close until the fourth inning when SAU pulled away. Chelsea Fagan led off the fourth inning with a solo home-run to left-center field. The Muleriders followed up with a double, walk and a single to load the bases. SAU worked a full-count and battled until they earned a run via free pass. With the bases loaded, Otts ripped a 2 RBI double to extend the lead to 6-0. 

BOT 5th: Sam Kaye entered the game for UT in the fifth inning. The left-handed junior allowed a lead-off double and a 2-run home-run, which provided SAU a mercy-rule victory in five innings. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Muleriders worked six walks in the contest, and tagged three extra-base hits. 
• SAU’s Elisa Favela recorded two doubles in three at-bats. 
• Miner threw 111 pitches in four innings of work.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Spartans did not record a hit for the first time since April 7, 2017 (59 games).

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will cap off the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday morning with another top-25 opponent, as UT battles against #22 Valdosta State at 11:00 a.m.

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