Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Down to its final three outs, the Eckerd College softball program loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning before eventually falling to 17th-ranked University of Tampa on a windy Friday-night series opener, 3-0.
Tampa's fireballing ace Kayla Cox began her outing in the circle with nine strikeouts in her first 10 batters faced to set the tone for a complete-game four-hit shutout.
Cox finished the game with 10 punchouts to collect her 18th win of the spring for the Spartans (23-8, 11-5 SSC).
The Tritons (17-25, 4-12 SSC) eventually figured out the UT flamethrower and strung together three consecutive one-out hits with the go-ahead run at the plate in an adventurous seventh frame.
Tonight's game was originally projected to get underway at 6 p.m., but playing conditions were affected by heavy rains from Thursday and the first pitch was hurled right before the 7 o'clock hour.
In the seventh, sophomore
Brittany Mitchell singled up the middle, senior
Kristen Schurr singled through the left side of the infield and freshman
Stephanie Wolfrom blooped a single into shallow right, to put Cox in a rare bases-loaded jam.
With the Tritons trailing by three runs, Cox finished out the game with a force out at home and a pop-up in foul territory to end the EC rally attempt.
Earlier, EC freshman shortstop
Kara Oberer spoiled a perfect game/no-hit bid by Cox with an infield single two outs into the fourth inning.
The Tritons also had runners on the corners into the sixth thanks to patience at the plate by junior
Taylor Styke and sophomore
Sabrina Lolo as they drew walks.
Two-sport standout Meagan Burke (volleyball) charged the Tampa offense, slugging her fourth home run of the spring to deep center in the top of the fourth. UT did all of its scoring in the inning as two more runs came home to score from contact off the bat of Karlyn Buker.
EC junior starter
Whitney Bernier allowed just two earned runs as she went the distance for the ninth time this season. She recorded one strikeout on a beautiful “strike 'em out, throw 'em out” sequence as freshman catcher
Amanda Green gunned down a would-be basestealer to complete the double play.
The Tritons and Spartans will wrap up their weekend series tomorrow at the Turley Athletic Complex with a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
