MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Hosting the Barry/Nova Invitational for the first time since 2003, the Barry University softball team (6-2) split a pair of games to open the tournament. The Buccaneers defeated Nova Southeastern 3-1 to start, but fell to Valdosta State 3-1 in the nightcap.

 

In the first game, Nova Southeastern (3-3) took advantage of two consecutive defensive miscues for an early first-inning lead, 1-0. Ashley Loose later tied the game with a leadoff home run in the third, while Maile Keeney drove in the go ahead run in the same inning for a 2-1 Barry lead. Casey Pyron plated Loose in the fifth for the insurance run and the win, 3-1.

 

Loose scored twice and recorded a pair of hits with a home run and an RBI to lead Barry at the plate. Keeney and Pyron each added RBI, while Amanda Goelz added a pair of hits including her first career triple. Liz Bennett (2-1) recorded her first win of the season allowing one run on four hits and struck out six. Valen Eberhard had a pair of hits to lead Nova Southeastern, while Dani Caron (1-2) struck out eight and gave up three runs on seven hits in the Sharks loss.

 

The tables turned in the nightcap against Valdosta State. Barry scored first when Loose recorded an RBI single that plated Brittany Anderson for the go ahead score, 1-0. In the top half of the fifth inning, the Blazers scored a pair of runs on four hits to take a 2-1 lead. Rebecca Aszman and Alex Acosta both recorded RBI hits in the inning. Valdosta State's Kristina Ely recorded a two-out RBI double in the sixth for the 3-1 Blazer win.

 

Ely and Peaches Ramsey each had a pair of hits to lead Valdosta State at the plate, while Ashley Hill (4-0) picked up the win in four innings of work. She allowed two hits and one run, while striking out two. Kristen Lindsey hurled the final three innings and struck out four to pick up the save. Loose and Anderson recorded the only two hits for Barry in the nightcap. Casey Pyron (0-1) suffered the Barry loss allowing three runs, five hits and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Amber Jack hurled the final 1.1 innings in relief.

 

The Buccaneers will return to action on Saturday for day two of the Barry/Nova Invitational. The Buccaneers will face Florida Tech at 10 am followed by a 12 noon match up with West Florida.

 

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Barry............... 002 010 0 -  3  7  2      (6-1)

Nova Southeastern... 100 000 0 -  1  4  1      (3-3)

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Pitchers: Barry - Liz Bennett. Nova Southeastern - Dani Caron.

Win-Liz Bennett(2-1)  Loss-Dani Caron(1-2)  T-1:37  A-113

HR BUS - Ashley Loose (1).

Game: SB0216A

 

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Valdosta State...... 000 021 0 -  3  6  0      (6-2)

Barry............... 001 000 0 -  1  2  1      (8-2)

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Pitchers: Valdosta State - Ashley Hill; Kristen Lindsey(5). Barry - Casey Pyron; Amber Jack(6).

Win-Ashley Hill(4-0)  Save-Kristen Lindsey(1)  Loss-Casey Pyron(0-1)  T-1:39  A-61

Game: SB0216B