BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Barry University softball team (25-15, 9-5 SSC) fell in both end of a Sunshine State Conference double-header to the host Lynn Fighting Knights (28-6, 14-3 SSC) earlier today at the McCusker Sportsplex. The Bucs lost the series opener 4-0 and the nightcap 4-2.

In the opening game, a pitching duel set the tone with only seven hits allowed by both pitchers combined. However, a crucial four-run mistake in the Buccaneer outfield with the bases loaded gave the Fighting Knights what they needed for the 4-0 win.

Ramie Garcia (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) suffered the loss for Barry allowing four unearned runs and struck out six to fall to 12-5, while Amiee Murch (25-3) struck out 16 in the win and allowed just three hits.

In the nightcap, Jennie Scott doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Tiffani King to take an early 1-0 lead after one. Later in the third, senior Heather Hodges (Clearwater, Fla.) belted only her second home run of her career to notch the game at one apiece. In the following inning, Lynn's Christina Rolla popped her 16th homer of the year to give the Fighting Knights the one-run edge, while Lynn added two more in the sixth. Getting a rare start at third base for Barry, Krista Latessa belted her first home run of the season to narrow the gap, but Murch stifled the Buccaneer offense in relief striking out an additional 14 Buccaneers to lift Lynn to the 4-2 win.

Elizabeth Bennett (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) suffered the nightcap loss giving up four runs and striking out six in 5.2 innings of work. With the score tied, Murch (26-3) came in the final 4.1 innings struck out 14 to pick up the win.

Both teams will return to action for the final game of the series on Sunday, Apr. 10 at 12:00 noon in Boca Raton, Fla.

Lynn 4, Barry 0 (04/09/2005 at Boca Raton, Fla.) (Game 1)
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Barry............... 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (25-14, 9-4 SSC)
Lynn................ 000 400 X - 4 4 0 (37-6, 13-3 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Garcia. Lynn - Murch.
Win-Murch(25-3) Loss-Garcia(12-5) T-1:23 A-0
Game: SB0409A

Lynn 4, Barry 2 (04/09/2005 at Boca Raton, Fla.) (Game 2)
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Barry............... 001 000 1 - 2 4 0 (25-15, 9-5 SSC)
Lynn................ 100 102 X - 4 7 0 (38-6, 14-3 SSC)
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Pitchers: Barry - Bennett; Garcia(6). Lynn - Foster; Murch(3).
Win-Murch(26-3) Loss-Bennett(13-10) T-1:49 A-51
HR BUS - Hodges (1); Latessa (1).
HR LUS - Rolla (16).
Game: SB0409B