DECATUR, Ala.—The third day wasn’t the charm for the Barry softball team as they again split their games at the UAH Charger Chillout. The Bucs (7-4) fell to North Georgia 4-3 in eight innings but bounced back to beat Northern Kentucky 8-0 behind Brianna Smith’s first career no-hitter.
The Buccaneer bats finally woke up on the final day of the tournament. Ashley Likens smashed a two-run homer in the opening game to give Barry a 2-0 lead.
Amber Jack (4-3) made the runs stand up for six innings. She allowed just four hits through the first six innings and struck out 12. But in the seventh, Hillary Cox reached on an error with one out and after another strikeout that brought Jack’s total to a career-high 14, Kim Steercay ripped the first pitch from Jack over the leftfield fence for a game-tying two-run homer.
In the eighth, with pinch-runner Jessica Skeels aboard on the tie-breaker, Laura Voyles hit another two-run homer to put the Saints (8-1) up 4-2.
Though the Bucs scratched a run in their half of the eighth when Smith scored on a error, it wasn’t enough and Barry fell 4-3. Sarah Phillips (4-1) earned the win for NGCSU, going the distance and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, while striking out five. Jack struck out 14 in eight innings and only allowed one earned run, but fell to 4-3.
In the final game, Jessica Tabor went three-for-three with four RBI to back up Smith’s no-hitter as Barry won 8-0 over Northern Kentucky in five innings. Smith squeezed in Natalie Heeley with the only run she would need in the first inning and Tabor added a two-run homer, the first of her career, in the second and added a two-run single in the third. Shyla Rider had two hits and scored twice, while Sara Hipson had two hits and drove in two runs.
Smith (3-1) walked two and struck out seven in posting her first career no-hitter and shutout. April Ehlers (2-1) took the loss for NKU. She lasted just two innings, allowing five runs on five hits and five walks and struck out two.
The Bucs play back in South Florida on Thursday, taking on St. Thomas on the road, then Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday in West Palm Beach, Fla.
(02/22/09 at Decatur, AL)
North Georgia 4, Barry 3
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North Georgia....... 000 000 22 - 4 6 5 (8-1)
Barry....................... 200 000 01 - 3 5 1 (6-5)
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Pitchers: North Georgia - Sarah Phillips. Barry - Amber Jack.
Win-Sarah Phillips(4-1) Loss-Amber Jack(4-3) T-2:13 A-67
HR NGCSU - Laura Voyles (1); Kim Stercay (1).
HR BU - Ashley Likens (1).
Weather: torpid
Barry 8, Northern Kentucky 0
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Northern Kentucky... 000 00 - 0 0 0 (3-2)
Barry........................... 323 0X - 8 10 1 (7-4)
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Pitchers: Northern Kentucky - Ehlers, April; Roy, Chelsie(3). Barry - Brianna Smith.
Win-Brianna Smith(3-1) Loss-Ehlers, April(2-1) T-1:36 A-44
HR BU - Jessica Tabor (1).
Weather: cold