Even with facing the first Sunshine State Conference loss of the season, the University of Tampa’s softball team (26-4, 11-1 SSC) still had a history-making weekend.
The Spartans beat the Rollins College Tars (24-6, 7-2 SSC) in the first two games of the series, but unfortunately lost in the 11th inning of the third game. This loss ended the Spartans 18-game win streak, the longest in program history, while also compiling the best program start to SSC play.
In addition, star pitcher Deanna Henriott earned her 1,000th career strikeout, making her only the 26th Division II pitcher ever to do so.
While the 999th strikeout was exciting, it also brought nerves “because [it] ended the top of the 8th. I wanted to accomplish this at UT, but I wanted us to win more,” the senior said.
The team still managed to find time to celebrate during the game. After the third strike, the crowd erupted as the team and coaches ran in to congratulate Henriott. Third baseman Susan Jallo explained, “Not a lot of people have gotten to be in her position, and it’s an awesome thing to have accomplished. She deserves it. Personally, I was very excited for her.”
The monumental pitch can be seen at http://www.tampaspartans.com.
Even though Henriott wanted to be able to celebrate this accomplishment, she knew she still had a game to play. “I knew that the game was not over yet, and I needed to stay focused,” she said. Unfortunately, the Spartans lost the game 5-0 in the 11th inning when Rollins scored on four hits. The Spartans were not able to to come back.
Hitting, the team’s constant weakness, was the main cause for the loss.
“We did not get that one clutch hit when we needed it in the third game,” added Henriott.
While there were nine base hits, 16 base runners were left on. “We got on, but could not get the clutch hit. We got the runners where we needed to; we just could not pull through,” said Jallo. Though the Spartans did lose the final game of the series, they did win two games before that. On Friday, UT beat the Tars 1-0. This was the 17th shutout of the season.
Henriott struck out 15 batters in her ninth shutout this year.
The Spartans had six hits, with the lone run of the game being scored in the fourth inning when junior Stacy Piagno hit in pinch runner junior Katie Bannon. Freshman Kayleen Boatwright led Tampa with two hits, with Jallo, senior Becky Vyzas and freshman Taylor Storey each contributing a hit.
In the first game of Saturday’s double-header, Spartan sophomore Kayla Cox started, struck out 12 Tars and only allowed one run. With the Tars leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Vyzas drove in Jallo with a single to left field.
The Spartans added an additional three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning from a triple by Brie Walton, a junior, that drove in two runs.
Walton finished the game with one hit, one run, and three RBI.
Confidence was a major part in beating the Tars, a longtime UT rival. “We are the better team and we knew it,” Jallo said. While she believes that home-field advantage did not play a part in the wins, Henriott disagrees.
“Not only do we have our fan support, but we have one of the best pitcher’s fields because we have a good size field and high fences. This takes the fear out of a late game high fly ball becoming a home run.”
The Spartans definitely had the support of fans for this series. While a previous weekend’s games against Lynn University only drew an average of 50 people per game, this weekend’s attendance was at 86 fans per game.
“Anytime one of our teams is winning, more students definitely come out and support,” said University of Tampa sophomore Craig Warzecha.
He added, “We have a really strong team and great pitching, which is what ends up winning games down the stretch. I think we have a good chance to go deep in the playoffs this year.” The Spartans will take on the Barry University Buccaneers in a three game series in Miami Shores, Fla. starting on Friday, March 30.
Analisa Trstensky can be reached at atrstensky@spartans.ut.edu.