Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Stacy Piagno homered in each game and another pair of strong pitching performances propelled 17th-ranked University of Tampa past the Eckerd College softball program in a Saturday doubleheader, 10-0 and 8-0 (6 innings).
UT's staff ace Kayla Cox recorded eight more strikeouts in a five-hit shutout while her partner in crime in the rotation, Julia Morrow, closed out the afternoon by fanning nine in a one-hitter for the Spartans (25-8, 13-5 SSC).
Piagno's second and third homers of the spring resulted in a combined seven runs driven in as Tampa pounded out 25 hits during the afternoon.
Eckerd freshman
Stephanie Wolfrom thwarted the no-hit bid by Morrow with a sharp line drive single to left for the Tritons (17-27, 4-14 SSC).
Sophomore leadoff hitter
Chelsea Jeffares reached base twice against Morrow, walking and being plunked by a pitch.
Sophomore
Sabrina Lolo was the ringleader for a string of quality at-bats in the opener against the dominant hurler Cox. Lolo had two of the team's five hits in game one while Wolfrom, senior
Kristen Schurr and freshman
Kirby Parnell, each singled.
The Tritons continued to battle deep into the count after facing Cox the night prior in a closely-contested shutout loss to begin the Sunshine State Conference series.
The Spartans were clinging to a 2-0 lead at the end of five innings, but pulled away with four runs each in the sixth and seventh frames.
Tampa only had one RBI in the sixth after a wild pitch, illegal pitch and passed ball, allowed runs to cross home plate.
Piagno ripped a three-run shot in the seventh in addition to an RBI double by leadoff hitter Kayleen Boatwright, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and two runs driven in.
In Morrow's 11th start of the season, the UT righty was sterling after not allowing a runner to get past first base.
After drawing a walk to begin EC's at-bats in the first inning, Jeffares interrupted a strong of eight straight retired by Morrow after being hit by a pitch. Morrow retired the side in order in the fourth before Wolfrom put EC in the hit column with one out in the fifth.
Piagno did the bulk of the offensive damage with a two-run bomb in the top of the first inning. Tampa managed to score in four of the six innings played, including a four spot in the third inning.
The Tritons are returning the Turley Athletic Complex on Wednesday against Webber International University for a doubleheader slated to begin at 5 p.m.
