Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Taking one of the nation's best to the brink, the Eckerd College softball program nearly pulled out an upset victory in the late stages against 13th-ranked Barry University on Friday night, eventually falling, 3-0.
The Buccaneers (38-9, 17-5 SSC) manufactured three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless clash through six full frames and rode a three-hit, 10-strikeout performance from starter Brianna Smith.
The Tritons (12-41, 4-18 SSC) chipped away in the hit column off the bats of
Chelsea Jeffares,
Alex Sasso and Sabrina Lolo.
Sophomore starter
Whitney Bernier held the Barry offense in check with seven solid innings, scattering nine hits and striking out two hitters.
In Eckerd's gutsy bid to make the first tally in the run column,
Kristen Schurr was gunned down trying to score on Sasso's single in a bang-bang play at the plate, tagged out by the catcher to end the fourth inning.
Sasso has recorded at least one hit in eight of her last 10 games played, including stringing together a five-game hit streak. She, along with fellow senior
Emily Wiemken, will be honored during Senior Day as part of tomorrow's agenda in Saturday's doubleheader.
A double, single and a walk, Barry in business in the seventh inning.
After a sacrifice bunt advanced runners to second and third with one away, Jessica Tabor put the game away with a two-run single up the middle.
The Tritons will face the Buccaneers tomorrow in a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m. Senior Day festivities will take place after game one.
