LAKELAND, Fla. -- Maile Keeney (Jr., Longwood, Fla.) drove in the winning run to help lift the #2 seeded Barry University softball team (38-11) to a 1-0 win over the #7 seeded Valdosta State Blazers (38-23) in the second game of the 2006 NCAA South Region Tournament hosted at Barnett Field by Florida Southern College on Thursday.

 

With a scheduled 1:30 pm first pitch, the Buccaneers had to wait nearly two hours before getting on the field to face the Blazers. Finally at 3:04 pm, the first pitch was thrown to start game two of the tournament. Neither team managed to plate a run until the sixth. Barry's Ashley Loose (Jr., Mill Creek, Wash.) drew a lead off walk and added a stolen base. With one out, Keeney hit an RBI single to center field that plated Loose from second to give Barry all the needed for the 1-0 win.

 

"Today was the first of several steps we need to take to get to the championship," head coach Danielle Penner said. "I think we came in a little nervous, but we finally settled down later in the game. We managed to approach each mistake singularly and that was a step in the right direction instead of letting them compound into other mistakes. We weren't on our best game, but we managed to keep fighting to beat a strong Valdosta team."

 

The Buccaneers collected four hits in the game to Valdosta State's two. Ramie Garcia (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) hurled her ninth complete game shutout, allowed just the two hits, walked one and struck out eight to improve to 17-4. Kristen Lindsey started the game, but was pulled in the second after allowing three to reach base. Elske ten Hoope (5-4) hurled five innings of relief, gave up four hits, one run, walked one, and struck out three in the loss for the Blazers.

 

With the win, the Buccaneers advance in the winners' bracket to play Alabama-Huntsville, who defeated Saint Leo 3-2 in 13 innings in the tournament's opening game, at 4:30 p.m. EST on Friday, May 12. The Blazers drop into the loser's bracket to face Saint Leo at 11:00 a.m. EST on Friday.

 

"I have all the confidence in the world that our team will come out with the drive and determination to play their best against one of the top teams in the country tomorrow," Penner said. "Alabama-Huntsville is one of the stronger teams in Division II and we need to play our best game. It will be an exciting game if both teams come out play their best."

 

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Valdosta State...... 000 000 0 -  0  2  0      (38-23)

Barry............... 000 001 X -  1  4  2      (38-11)

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Pitchers: Valdosta State - Lindsey; ten Hoope(2). Barry - Garcia.

Win-Garcia(17-4)  Loss-ten Hoope(5-4)  T-1:34  A-110

Lindsey faced 1 batter in the 2nd.

Game: SB1011