FT. MYERS, Fla. – Sixteen…That was how long the Barry University softball team’s (29-10) win streak was before it came to an end against the fifth-ranked Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (44-3) on Tuesday night at the FGCU Softball Complex. The Buccaneers lost both ends of the double header 6-3 and 3-2 in 11 innings.
Florida Gulf Coast took an early 1-0 lead when Rachel Homan drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single in the second inning. Barry immediately responded in the top half of the next inning when Amanda Goelz homered a three-run blast to give Barry a 3-1 lead. It was Goelz’s fourth this season.
A Buccaneer defensive miscue led to an Eagle run in the bottom of the third, which narrowed the score 3-2 in the Bucs favor. Barry’s lead would last only an inning more when the Eagles erupted with four runs in the fourth to regain the lead, 6-3. Cheyenne Jenks doubled in a pair of runs for the game-winner and Carmen Paez hit a two-run home run to cap off the Eagle victory.
Barry’s Liz Bennett (11-2) gave up six runs (five earned), nine hits, and struck out six in the Buccaneer loss. Rachael Edinger (21-0) struck out two in seven innings and gave up three runs to earn the Eagle win and remain perfect from the rubber this season.
In a fast-paced nightcap, the Buccaneers took an early 1-0 lead in the second. Goelz led the inning off with a double to left center and then Ali Perantoni hit an RBI single to left field to plate the run.
After nearly six scoreless innings, Eagle centerfielder Homan tied the game with one swing of the bat. She belted a solo home run, which tied the game at one run apiece heading into the seventh.
The game remained tied until the 10th when the NCAA tiebreaker rule went into effect. Place on second, Holli Davis scored the go ahead run after an error by the Eagle third baseman. However, Natasha Johnson plated the tiebreaker runner Jessica Rouse with an RBI single to tie the game for the second time.
After ending the Bucs’ chances on an inning-ending double play and with the bases loaded, Rouse drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a 3-2 win in 11 innings.
Goelz went 5-for-7 with three doubles, a home run, and three RBI to lead the Bucs at the plate for the day. Amber Jack (17-6) went 10.2 innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits in the Barry loss. Dana Frantz (20-3) went the whole 11 innings to earn the win and struck out seven for Florida Gulf Coast.
The Buccaneers will return to Sunshine State Conference play on Saturday in Melbourne, Fla. taking on the Florida Tech Panthers at 7 pm for the first game of a three-game set.
Game 1: 03/27/2007 at Ft. Myers, Fla.
Florida Gulf Coast 6, Barry 3
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Barry............... 003 000 0 - 3 7 1 (29-9)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 011 400 X - 6 9 0 (43-3)
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Pitchers: Barry - Liz Bennett. Florida Gulf Coast - Rachael Edinger.
Win-Rachael Edinger(21-0) Loss-Liz Bennett(11-2) T-1:51 A-0
HR BUS - Amanda Goelz (4).
HR FGCU - Carmen Paez (19).
Game: SB0327A
Game 2: 03/27/2007 at Ft. Myers, Fla.
Florida Gulf Coast 3, Barry 2
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Barry............... 010 000 000 10 - 2 7 1 (29-10)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 000 001 000 11 - 3 7 1 (44-3)
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Pitchers: Barry - Amber Jack. Florida Gulf Coast - Dana Frantz.
Win-Dana Frantz(20-3) Loss-Amber Jack(17-6) T-2:14 A-213
HR FGCU - Rachel Homan.
Game: SB0327B