LAKELAND, Fla. -- Freshman Brittany Anderson (Chandler, Ariz.) collected two hits to help lead the second-seeded Barry University softball team (39-12) to a 2-1 win over the #4 seed North Alabama Lions (40-20) in the third round of the 2006 NCAA Softball South Region Tournament hosted at Barnett Field by Florida Southern College on Saturday morning.

 

"We came out aggressive and strong which was something we needed to do to win," head coach Danielle Penner said. "We are in one of the toughest regions in the country and it's imperative we continue to come out and play each game as though it were the national championship. Hopefully we'll continue to do that tonight."

 

The Buccaneers faced elimination in the loser's bracket, but managed to stay alive with the 2-1 win. The Bucs also topped the Lions after suffering a 7-3 loss earlier in the season.

 

Barry took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Shyla Rider (Fr., Woodbridge, Va.) and Ashley Loose (Jr., Mill Creek, Wash.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The Bucs then managed to load the bases with no outs. However, heads up defensive play by the Lions picked up two quick force outs at the plate which gave Barry only one more opportunity to capitalize. Senior Katie Arnone (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) then drove in the Bucs' first run with an RBI single for the early lead.

 

In the fourth, North Alabama scored once to notch the game in a 1-1 tie. Kristin Maas led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Buccaneer defensive miscue to tie the game. Later in the sixth, Barry managed to regain the lead. Maile Keeney (Jr., Longwood, Fla.) led off with a single then Anderson followed with a double to left center to put runners at second and third for the Buccaneers. Ali Perantoni (So., Miami, Fla.) finally laid down a perfect bunt to score the go ahead run on the sacrifice squeeze play.

 

Leading 2-1 heading into the seventh, the Buccaneer defense settled in and recorded three consecutive outs for the 2-1 win.

 

Anderson led the Bucs with a single and a double, while Perantoni and Arnone recorded the Bucs RBI. Barry collected eight hits in the game to North Alabama's three.

 

Ramie Garcia (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) recorded her 18th win of the season going seven innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits and struck out seven with one walk. Megan Niesel (13-6) suffered the loss for the Lions. She went six innings, gave up eight hits, two runs, and walked one.

 

Barry will advance to the next game to play the winner between Florida Gulf Coast and Valdosta State at 7 pm Saturday, May 13.

 

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North Alabama....... 000 100 0 -  1  3  0      (40-20)

Barry............... 100 001 X -  2  8  2      (39-12)

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Pitchers: North Alabama - M. Niesel. Barry - Garcia.

Win-Garcia(18-5)  Loss-M. Niesel(13-6)  T-1:31  A-106

Game: SB0513A