MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers ran their win streak to 12 games with a 9-2, 5-4 softball doubleheader sweep of the Molloy Lions at Buccaneer Field on Wednesday night.
In the first game, the Bucs (22-5) jumped on top early and cruised to a 9-2 win. Barry sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring six runs. Dee Espinosa had an RBI double and Kristina Pazienza drove in a pair with a single.
The Bucs added single runs in the second, third and fifth. Espinosa cracked a leadoff homer in the second. Pazienza scored on a wild pitch in the third and Megan Copeland scored on an error in the fifth.
The Lions (4-12) scored a pair of runs in the fourth. Victoria Gunnels had a sacrifice fly and Ashley Fedor had an RBI single.
Taylor Sabol (7-3) went the distance for the win for the Bucs. She allowed two runs on four hits and a walk and struck out two. Sam Sauer (0-1) took the loss for the Lions. She gave up eight runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.
The second game swung back-and forth early before the Bucs took control late. The Lions got started in the first inning on a RBI single by Tracey Balinskas.
The Bucs came back for two runs in the bottom of the inning. After Copeland walked, Julie Brito knocked her in with a two-out double. Brito came home on a single by Kelly Martinez, who went 3-for-3 in the game.
The Lions recaptured the lead in the third inning. Brianne Catalano and Fedor had hits to lead off the inning, with Catalano scoring on an error. With two outs, Brenda Lee and Victoria Gunnels had back-to-back RBI doubles to give Molloy a 4-2 edge.
Espinosa erased it in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer, he seventh of the season.
The Bucs posted the winning run in the fourth. Lexi Corrente led off with a single and was moved over to second by Hunter Mars on a bunt. One out later, Alayna Gallagher came through with a double down the left field line.
Pazienza (5-0) made the run stand up over the last three innings to stay perfect on the season. She worked a complete game, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out five. She allowed only three base runners after the third inning.
Balinskas (2-6) took the loss. She allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk in 3.0 innings, leaving after Corrente's hit in the fourth.
The Bucs travel to Tampa, Fla., to take on the defending Sunshine State Conference champions, the Tampa Spartans in a three-game set on Saturday-Sunday, Mar. 21-22 at Naimoli Family Stadium.
