Game One
Friday, Feb. 2
Alabama-Huntsville 1 UT 0 (9 innings)
Tampa’s inability to get the big hit caused them to lose their season opener to the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in extra innings, 1-0.
Pitcher Devlin Dougherty had an impressive night, pitching all nine innings and allowing just three hits. She was outdueled by an Alabama-Huntsville trio of pitchers that included starter Sage Woodham, Jenny Hess and Sydney Simpson. They combined to shut out the Lady Spartans.
The Chargers got the go-ahead run in the top half of the ninth inning. With one out, Dougherty hit shortstop Caroline Weatherly with a pitch. Weatherly then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kristina Prater then hit a groundball to third baseman Jessica Tejas. Tejas short hopped the throw, and the ball got past first baseman Samantha Becker. Weatherly scored, giving the Chargers the lead for good.
Tampa had their opportunities all game. One of their best chances came in the bottom half of the seventh inning. With one out, right fielder Katie Davis reached base on an error. After Michele Horan put down a sacrifice bunt and second baseman Brandyce Trowell walked, Becker came up with a chance to win it. She connected on a screamer that was hit directly at right fielder Erin Duke to end the threat.
Dougherty was the hard-luck loser, starting her season off 0-1. Head coach Leslie Kanter was proud of her effort.
“I was very pleased with her,” she said. “She pitched a heck of a game.”
Some of the other standout players for the Lady Spartans included Krystal Crooks, who went 2-4 with two singles. Becker also had an outstanding defensive play, making a nice sliding catch in foul territory.
The lack of production offensively was the downfall for Tampa this game, and Kanter hopes that the team improves in this area.
“We had plenty of opportunities to score,” she said. “We just couldn’t come through with the big hit.”
Game Two
Friday, Feb. 2
Alabama-Huntsville 5 – 4 UT
Tampa couldn’t secure a two-run lead in the last two innings of play and found themselves starting the season 0-2, following a 5-4 loss to the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
The Lady Spartans had more offense in the second game of their double header, and freshman pitcher Heather VanLandingham was overpowering at times. She finished the game with eight strikeouts and allowed four earned runs.
She pitched well, despite not being at the top of her game.
“She didn’t throw like she can,” said head coach Leslie Kanter. “She was feeling very ill and didn’t tell anybody. But she pitched well enough to win.”
Tampa started their scoring in the bottom half of the third inning. Shortstop Michele Horan hit a double down the left field line. She scored when second baseman Brandyce Trowel reached on a throwing error, tying score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the bats came alive. Catcher Rachel Browning started things off with a double to left center. Following a single from left fielder Kelley Glover, pinch-runner Ashley Carrea advanced to third. She would score when center fielder Kallan Casey beat out a possible double play. Casey stole second and scored on a single by right fielder Jessica Keefe. Keefe advanced to second on a throwing error. Third baseman Jessica Tejas got an RBI by hitting a single to drive in Keefe. This put the Lady Spartans up 4-2 going into the top of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Tampa was clinging to a one-run lead, 4-3. With two outs and a runner on second, Casey was unable to handle a laser shot to center from second baseman Anna Parker, and the score was tied. After a pitching change, Stephanie Pinto hit a groundball to Tejas who threw the ball past first baseman Samantha Becker, allowing Parker to score. It was Tejas second costly error in two games. Head coach Kanter hopes she overcomes the mistakes.
“It was a tough one,” she said. “We hope that’s the end of it. She’s a tough kid.”
Despite a leadoff double from Keefe in the bottom of the inning, Tampa was unable to tie the game.
Head coach Kanter believes the team has some work to do.
“We need to cut back on the mental mistakes,” she said. “If we hit the ball like we did today, we should be all right.”
The team has a double header on Sunday, Feb. 4 against Barry University before another double header Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m.