MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers play their last non-region softball games on Wednesday when they host the Molloy Lions at Buccaneer Field at 4:00 pm.
In fact, after Wednesday, 18 of the final 20 games on the schedule come in Sunshine State Conference play. The only non-conference tilt comes on Apr. 14 when the Bucs pay a return visit to Palm Beach Atlantic.
The Lions and Bucs have played eight times since 2010, with both teams taking four games. It will be the fifth time in six years that they have gotten together in Miami Shores. The 2012 doubleheader was rained out. Barry has won the last three games, all by shutout. Last year, Barry won 3-0 and 2-0, with Camille Czarnecki and Britney Pugh each picking up her sixth win of the season.
This year, the Bucs come in at 20-5 and riding a 10-game winning streak. Junior catcher Dee Espinosa has been incandescent during this streak, batting .481 with five doubles, four homers, 13 runs scored and 15 RBI. She has slugged 1.111 and drawn eight walks for a .605 on-base percentage. Alayna Gallagher and Megan Copeland have set the table for Espinosa. Gallagher has batted .412 with a .500 on-base percentage, while Copeland has hit .395 and has gotten on base at a .425 clip. Each has scored seven runs. Julie Brito has also been a run producer, with three homers and 11 RBI in the last 10 games.
The pitching staff has rounded into shape during the streak. Haley Wiseman and Taylor Sabol are both 4-0, while Kristina Pazienza is 2-0. Wiseman has struck out 24 in 23.1 innings with a 1.50 ERA. Sabol lead the team with 36.2 innings and three complete games with a 1.53 ERA. Pazienza has two complete game shutouts and has not issued a walk.
The Lions, typically one of the best teams from the Northeast, has struggled some this season and bring a 4-10 record into the fray. Leftfielder/pitcher Tracey Balinskas leads the Lions both at the plate and in the circle. Balinskas has hit .372 with a team-best nine runs scored. She has also tossed 45.2 innings with 41 strikeouts and a 2-5 record. Her ERA is 5.06 and she's been a little homer-prone, giving up eight big flies. First baseman Victoria Gunnels is batting .366 with 11 RBI. Chelsea Hawks has backed up Balinskas in the circle, also going 2-5 in 35.2 innings, but striking out just 13.
The games, which begin at 4:00 pm, will be carried live on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network.
