Softball | 2/8/2004 1:47:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Barry University softball team closed out the Las Vegas Classic tournament splitting on the final day. The Buccaneers (6-2) defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 7-4 in the first game, and then fell to Longwood 9-1 in the nightcap.

The Buccaneers took an early 3-0 lead over Minnesota State-Mankato (2-3) heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. However, Mankato's Jessica Peters hit a questionable inside the park home run that put her team up 4-3 at the end of four. Heading into the final three innings, Buccaneers Maile Keeney, Krista Latessa and Kim Fujimoto each blasted home runs to lift Barry to the 7-4 win. Elizabeth Bennett (6-1) gave up four runs on four hits and struck out nine to earn the win for the Buccaneers. Katie Karbon (1-1) took the loss for Mankato giving up five runs and walking six.

The desert cold settled in for the nightcap and had a lasting effect on a fatigued Barry team as the Buccaneers fell 9-1 to Longwood in their final game of the Las Vegas Classic. Playing their sixth game in three days, the Buccaneers only managed three hits as the sun set behind the mountain top. Amanda Moore kept the Buccaneers from being shutout hitting her second homer of the day in the sixth. Sarah Backe (0-1) suffered the loss for Barry giving up nine runs on nine hits and walking 12. Jen Steele (1-2) earned the win for Longwood giving up one run on four Buccaneer hits, while striking out four.

Amanda Moore went 2 for 7 to lead the Bucs at the plate with two home runs and two RBI. The Buccaneers finished the day with five homers getting two from Moore and one each from Keeney, Latessa and Fujimoto.

The Buccaneers return to the friendly confines of Buccaneer Field on Friday, Feb. 13 to open up Sunshine State Conference play with a single game against Saint Leo at 7 pm followed with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 pm.

Barry 7, Minnesota St-Mankato 4 (02/07/2004 at Las Vegas, Nev)
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Barry............... 111 021 1 - 7 5 2 (6-1)
Minnesota St-Mankato 000 400 0 - 4 4 1 (2-3)
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Pitchers: Barry - Bennett. Minnesota St-Mankato - Karbon; Mamer(5).
Win-Bennett(6-1) Loss-Karbon(1-1) T-2:10 A-73
HR BUS - Fujimoto (1); Keeney (2); Moore (1); Latessa (2).
HR MSUM - Peters.

Longwood 9, Barry 1 (02/07/2004 at Las Vegas, Nev.)
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Barry............... 000 001 - 1 4 1 (6-2)
Longwood............ 003 132 - 9 9 0 (1-4)
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Pitchers: Barry - Backe. Longwood - Steele.
Win-Steele(1-2) Loss-Backe(0-1) T-2:45 A-47
HR BUS - Moore (2).
Backe faced 5 batters in the 6th.