TAMPA, Fla. –  The University of Tampa softball team dropped the first game of the weekend series against No. 10 Florida Tech, in part to a two-run fourth inning in which neither run was earned. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 10 Florida Tech 2 (W: Melanie Murphy, 8-4), Tampa 0 (L: Makaleigh Dooley, 8-5)
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (10-9, 4-6 SSC), No. 10 Florida Tech Panthers (19-4, 5-2 SSC)
Location: Naimoli Family Field || Tampa, Fla.
All-Time Series: Tampa leads 64-51; The Spartans have won five of the last seven games. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

TOP 4th: Leading off the inning, Tina Velazquez drove a pitch the opposite direction and connected on her first triple of the season. Dooley worked a pop-up and a strikeout before allowing the first run of the game. Ally Carver hit a grounder to shortstop and managed to beat the throw after a few bobbles. Alexus Smith stepped to the plate following the Carver at-bat and laced a liner off the glove of the Spartans right fielder. Carver scored from first base and gave FIT a two-run lead.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Dooley made her 12th start of the season, and she pitched a complete game for the 10th time. The senior struck out eight batters and did not allow an earned run.
• Dooley has tossed at least eight strikeouts in seven games this season. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will complete the weekend series against No. 10 Florida Tech on Saturday afternoon, first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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