MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers swept a softball doubleheader from the Ave Maria Gyrenes at Buccaneer Field on Saturday, winning 7-0 in the first and taking the nightcap 12-4 in six innings.
In the first game, Geneva Santos (6-1) tossed a one-hit shutout, the first of her career to pick up the win. She walked three and struck out three.
The Bucs (8-5) scored three runs in the third inning off Gyrene starter Sadie Mosher (4-4). Hunter Mars reached on a dropped fly by the left fielder and scored the first run on a sacrifice fly by Cheyanne Head. Dee Espinosa followed with a two-run double to score Kayla Ogle and Megan Copeland who had singled to load the bases.
In the fourth, the Bucs got four more. Ashley Fernandez was hit by pitch to lead off the inning. Sam Busekrus followed with an infield single. Mars drove in Fernandez with a base hit to right center and Ogle and Copeland delivered RBI singles as well. Espinosa drove in Ogle for the final run.
Ogle went 3-for-4 and stole three bases. Espinosa has two hits and drove in three. Copeland also had two hits.
Mosher took the loss for AMU (10-5). She struck out seven in four innings, but allowed seven runs (four earned) on nine hits.
In the second game, the Bucs' bats exploded for 12 runs on 15 hits. Espinosa and Alexis Kent each drove in a run in the first inning, scoring Ogle and Copeland.
After being quieted by Gyrene starter Gennifer Raulerson (4-1) in the second and third, Ave Maria closed the gap to 2-1 in the fourth. Buccaneer starter Anieliese Palmeiro gave up a hit and walked three to force in a run and she was relieved by Santos, who retired designated player Genna Twigg swinging to end the inning.
The Bucs piled on six runs in fourth. Santos singled up the middle and scored on a triple by Kristina Osorio. Jasmine Harris delivered a fly ball to score Osorio. Four straight hits, singles by Ogle, Alayna Gallagher and Copeland, and a three-run homer from Espinosa made it 8-1.
In the sixth, the Gyrenes' bats finally came alive scoring three runs off Santos. Marissa Conde walked and Marinna Shadley smacked a two-run homer down the left field line. Mosher followed with a solo shot to center to trim the Bucs' lead to 8-4.
The Bucs would not be denied in the bottom of the frame. Ogle walked and stole second. After a single by Gallagher, Copeland drove in Ogle with a single through the left side. Espinosa followed with a two-run double to make it 11-4. She scored two batters later on a single by Santos, ending the game on run-rule.
Santos got the win in relief of Palmeiro. She worked 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk and stuck out two. Raulerson took the loss, her first of the season, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and a walk and stuck out two as well.
Espinosa drove in a career-high six runs, going 3-for-3. Santos came off the bench to also go 3-for-3 with the crucial RBI. Ogle, Gallagher and Copeland each had two hits and Ogle also stole three more bases.
The Bucs host the 24th-ranked Florida Tech Panthers next weekend in a key Sunshine State Conference matchup.
