MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers host the league-leading Saint Leo Lions in a Sunshine State Conference softball series this weekend at Buccaneer Field.
The series is scheduled for a 7:00 pm single game on Thursday, Mar. 24 and doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 25 at noon, though the schedule could change based on the weather forecast.
The Bucs (4-10, 8-4 SSC) hold a commanding 82-25 lead in the overall series that dates back to the first season of softball. Since 2007, Barry has won 26 of 33 games, including a three-game sweep in Saint Leo last season.
The Lions (26-1, 11-1 SSC) are ranked seventh in the NFCA National Poll and have won 12 straight games.
The Bucs are led, again, by 2015 SSC Player of the Year, Dee Espinosa. The senior catcher is third in the league in batting (.414) and second in slugging percentage (.671), on-base percentage (.529) and RBI (31). She is also second in the conference in runners caught stealing (9) and first in stolen base percentage (.591).
Junior outfielders Kayla Ogle (.395) and Megan Copeland (.390) are also near the top of the batting charts. Ogle is second in the league lead with 29 runs scored and first with 25 stolen bases. Copeland is third on the team in battingand second on the team with 17 runs scored and 17 RBI.
Freshman Anieliese Palmeiro and sophomore Geneva Santos have handled the bulk of the pitching duties. Palmiero is 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 61.1 innings. She also has the Bucs' two saves on the season. Santos is 9-5 with a 2.74 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.
The Lions are leading the conference in both offense and defense. They are batting .365 as a team, 30 points ahead of the Bucs very respectable .335 in second place. In the pitching circle, the Lions have been outstanding, allowing just 13 runs (7 earned) in 27 games for a 0.28 team ERA.
The Lions' Rachel Heath (.455) is leading the conference in batting and is second in stolen bases (23) and third in runs scored (28). Brooke Samios-Uy (.400) provides the punch in the middle of the Lions' order, slugging .627 and leading the team with 28 RBI, eight doubles and three triples. Tiffany Thompson (.409) is another speedster, swiping 12 bases without getting caught and scoring 23 runs.
The Lions' trio of Samantha Tyler (0.18 ERA), Alana Tabel (0.24 ERA) and Stephanie Adkins (0.38 ERA) occupy the top three slots on the conference list. Tyler is 6-0 with 41 strikeouts in 40.0 innings. Tabel, the 2015 national leader in ERA, is 10-0 with 44 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. Adkins is 10-1 with 94 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. In 173 innings, the Lions have issued just 30 walks.
The game will be carried live on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network, with Danny Rabinowitz on the call.
