MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (January 25^th, 2019) – The St. Thomas University Bobcats Softball team (2-0) swept the Barry University Buccaneers (0-2) on Friday night from the "Colonel" to open up the 2019 season.

Bobcat Starters: Melody Grafals (C), Rebeka Ehrenthal (RF), Tyenna Colon (2B), Alliyah Sands (SS), Deavyn McDade (1B), Sarah Deschenne (3B), Emily Santos (P), Nanet Manieri (CF), GiGi Santos (LF)
Buccaneers Starters: Duncan (LF), Checkley (CF), Rawls (3B), Johnson (P), Dragich (C), Colvin (2B), Starling (RF), Santigo (SS), Petty (1B)

Game One Notes

• St. Thomas scored early in the season-opening game against Barry, as the Bobcats claimed a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
• STU began their rally with a Deavyn McDade lead-off walk, before Sarah Deschenne sacrificed herself with a bunt to move McDade to third base. Following the sac-bunt, a Nanet Manieri RBI groundout brought in McDade from third.
• BU threatened to tie the game in the top of the 3^rd inning, with a lead-off double and followed with a sac-bunt to put the tying run on third base.
• The Bobcat defense turned a unique 1-3-2 (Pitcher [Emily Santos], McDade, Grafals) double play to end the inning and preserve the lead.
• In the bottom of the 3^rd inning, STU tacked on another run to bring the lead to 2-0, as Alliyah Sands brought in Grafals from second base on a RBI single.
• Barry University rallied for three runs, in the top of the 4^th inning, which was lead-off by a home run, to claim their first lead at 3-2.
• STU wasted no time to get back in the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 4^th inning.
• The two-run comeback was capped off by a GiGi Santos RBI Fielder's Choice and aggressive base running by Deschenne and Delaware.
• The Bobcats extended their lead following a Grafals' two-run single in the bottom of the 6^th.
• Emily Santos pitched 5.2 innings to earn her first win of the season, limiting the Buccaneers to one earned run with two strikeouts.
• Kaitlin Spalding earned her first collegiate save, as the freshman went the final 1.1 innings and only allowed one run.

Game Two
Bobcat Starters: Grafals (2B), Ehrenthal (RF), Colon (SS), Sands (3B), Deschenne (CF), Delaware (1B), Dayma Pla (C), Santos (LF), Spalding (P)
Buccaneers Starters: Chisolm (3B), Checkley (CF), Duncan (LF), Johnson (P), Colvin (1B), Bonilla (RF), Diaz (C), Santiago (SS), Andrade (2B)

Game Two Notes

• STU opened game two of the Opening Day double-header with a four-run bottom of the 1^st inning.
• The game started with Sands bringing in Colon and Ehrenthal on a single to third to put the Bobcats in front 2-0.
• Sands stole second on the next pitch, advanced to third on an Alexis Castroman ground out and scored on a passed ball to bring the lead to 3-0.
• Deschenne followed the passed ball with a single and steal of second of her own to be in scoring position for Delaware. Delaware singled to center field to open an early 4-0 lead.
• STU followed the four-run first, with an additional four runs in the 2^nd inning. Capitalizing off three Buccaneer errors.
• The story of the game in addition to the dominant offensive performance, was an incredible pitching performance by Spalding and Jennifer Acevedo. Spalding opened the game with three-perfect innings, striking out three.
• Acevedo pitched the final four innings and held the Buccaneers out of the hit column until the 6^th inning and struck out four.

Top Bobcats
Kaitlyn Spalding: 4.1 total innings, four strikeouts, save
Jennifer Acevedo: 4.0 innings, 1-0, four strikeouts
Emily Santos: 5.2 innings, 1-0, two strikeouts

Upcoming
St. Thomas will play Broward College in a scrimmage doubleheader on Wednesday, January 30^th with first-pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. from Broward College