Softball | 2/21/2004 6:52:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Barry University softball team split a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader earlier this afternoon against the Florida Southern Moccasins. The Bucs (8-8, 2-4 SSC) won the first game 3-2, but fell to the Mocs (5-1, 5-1 SSC) 1-0 in the nightcap.

The Moccasins took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one after a critical Buccaneer error. Krista Bradley, Jesse Shepherd and Stephanie Huber led off the third with a walk and two back-to-back singles to load the bases for Florida Southern's Whitney Bartlett. The Bucs were able to get out of the inning without much damage, but Bartlett posted an RBI groundout to second giving Florida Southern a 2-0 lead.

With only two hits heading into the sixth, the Buccaneers picked added three more to their total including a three-run home run by shortstop Delilah Stroup that gave Barry a 3-2 lead and the win. Sarah Backe (1-3) had an outstanding performance giving up two runs (one earned), walked three and struck out four to pick up her first win for Barry. Stacey Bronson (1-1) suffered the loss for Florida Southern and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out eight.

In the nightcap, Barry's Elizabeth Bennett and Florida Southern's Megan Brown put on an old fashioned pitching dual in front of 104 fans. Combined, both pitchers gave up five hits and struck out 10 in the contest. The Moccasins scored their only run in the sixth after two crucial Barry errors. The Buccaneers had a chance to take the lead with bases loaded and one out in the seventh, but squandered a second opportunity in two games.

Bennett (7-5) suffered the loss for the Buccaneers giving up one unearned run and struck out three, while Brown (4-0) gave up three hits and struck out seven to pick up the win for the Moccasins.

Stroup went 2 for 4 with three RBI and a home run accounting for two of the Bucs' seven hits in the doubleheader. Stephanie Huber led the Moccasins going 2 for 5 with a run scored.

The Buccaneers will resume play in Valdosta, Ga. on Friday, Feb. 27 in the South Region Crossover. The Bucs will face Lincoln Memorial at 5 pm and then North Alabama at 7 pm.

Barry 3, Florida Southern 2 (02/21/2004 at Lakeland, Fla.) (Game 1)
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Barry............... 000 003 0 - 3 5 1 (8-7, 2-3 SSC)
Florida Southern.... 101 000 0 - 2 5 1 (4-1, 4-1 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Backe. Florida Southern - Bronson.
Win-Backe(1-3) Loss-Bronson(1-1) T-1:50 A-0
HR BUS - Stroup (3).
Game: SB0221A

Florida Southern 1, Barry 0 (02/21/2004 at Lakeland, Fla.) (Game 2)
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Barry............... 000 000 0 - 0 3 2 (8-8, 2-4 SSC)
Florida Southern.... 000 010 X - 1 2 2 (5-1, 5-1 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Bennett. Florida Southern - Brown.
Win-Brown(4-0) Loss-Bennett(7-5) T-1:44 A-104
Game: SB0221B