MOBILE, Ala.—The Barry softball team split a doubleheader with the Badgers of Spring Hill College, losing 2-1 in the first game and winning 5-2 in a game shortened to six innings in the second.
In the first game, the Bucs' (10-8) Geneva Santos (7-3) and Spring Hill's (14-11) Carmen Sagrera (9-7) locked up in a pitching duel, with both hurlers posting shutouts into the fifth inning.
Barry broke through first in the fifth off Sagrera. Sam Busekrus singled with one out and stole second. She scored on a single by Alayna Gallagher.
Santos carried the shutout into the seventh inning. But she walked Taylor Lahasky to lead off the inning and Carmen Byrd laid done a bunt to move her over. Jenna Charnock singled past the first baseman into right field, scoring Lahasky to tie the game. Charnock moved up to third when the throw from right got away on the infield and she scored on a bunt single by Kali Clement.
Sagrera worked the complete game, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk. She struck out four. Santos took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks and struck out one.
In the second game, the Bucs struck first again. Kayla Ogle singled leading off the third inning and stole second. Megan Copeland, who went 4-for-4, had a bunt single and Ogle later scored on a passed ball.
The Bucs poured it on in the fourth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs. Alexis Kent walked with one out and Anieliese Palmeiro came in to run. Busekrus followed with a bunt single and Gallagher reached on a bunt that was mishandled by Badger pitcher Danielle Clark (4-4), allowing Palmiero to score. Ogle drew a walk to load the bases and Clark uncorked a wild pitch to score Busekrus. Copeland singled off of Clark to drive in Gallagher and Cheyanne Head was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Espinosa came through with a single to score Ogle.
The Badgers finally broke through in the fifth inning against Palmeiro (3-2). Lahasky led off with a double and Byrd followed with an infield single. Clement had a single to left to score Lahasky and Byrd scored on a ground out by Madeline Burchell.
Palmeiro worked six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits and three walks. Clark took the loss for Spring Hill, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings.
The Bucs travel to Lakeland, Fla., on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 11-12 for a three-game Sunshine State Conference set with the Florida Southern Mocs.
