Late Rally Sinks Bulldogs as #20 Tampa Sweeps Bryant in Season Opener
Late Rally Sinks Bulldogs as #20 Tampa Sweeps Bryant in Season Opener
Tampa, Fla. - A late Tampa rally erased an early 2-0 deficit as the Spartans of Tampa University swept a Tuesday night doubleheader with the Bryant Bulldogs. The #20 Spartans scored 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth to cement the victory over the Bulldogs, who are 0-2 on the young season.
The tough-loss luck went to Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.), who allowed just three hits and three runs while striking out four. Enos (0-1) shut down the powerful Spartan offense for four innings, before they finally got to her in the bottom of the fifth when Brandi Blout knocked a 2-out RBI double to score Tejas. An inning later, the Spartans took the 3-2 lead on a two-out, two-strike double over Thomas in right field.
The Bulldogs mounted a one-out rally in the top of the seventh when Ashley Coon (Levittown, Penn.) and Kimberly Breton (Leominster, Mass.) knocked hits. But Deanna Henriott retired the last two batters to notch her second win of the evening.
The Bulldogs struck first, loading the bases in the first off Tampa starter Heather VanLandingham. Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, CT) singled in Alison Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.), who had doubled earlier in the inning. However, the Bulldogs would fail to bring in any more runs in the frame after Alexandra Pearson (North Dighton, Mass.) struck out looking with a full count and the bases full.
The Bulldogs jumped on VanLandingham again in the second when Kate Thomas (Bedford, NH) launched a deep drive to the wall in right center for a triple. Thomas scored on a wild pitch two pitches later to make it 2-0 Bulldogs.
Enos worked out of a tight jam in the bottom of the second. The Spartans put runners on second and third before Enos caught Rachel Brown and Ashley Carrea looking on strikes to end the threat.
Bryant loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, before Heather VanLandingham was relieved by game one starter Deanna Henriott. Henriott got out of the jam when Jessica Tejas threw out Breton attempting to tag up on a short fly ball to right field.
Breton, the sophomore centerfielder was two for three in her second game two from the leadoff spot.
Earlier in the evening, the Bulldogs dropped an 8-0 decision to the Spartans. The Spartans jumped on freshman Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, PA) in the first inning. Tampa struck Houseal, making her first collegiate start, for three runs in the first inning. The Spartans found holes in the Bryant defense, getting 12 hits off Houseal (0-1), but none for extra bases. The Bulldogs committed two errors and three passed balls. Five of the eight runs Houseal allowed were unearned.
Henriott (15-3) dominated Bulldog hitters all day, notching 12 strikeouts in game one.
The Bulldogs will return to action Thursday evening with a doubleheader with Florida Southern, who opened the season with the #4 national ranking.