MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 8, 2023) - Saturday afternoon secured a three-game sweep for the receiving votes, St. Thomas University (STU) Softball Team (29-11, 10-5 SUN) over Webber International University (10-26, 4-11 SUN). The Bobcats dominated game one 9-1 in five innings on Friday night and then swept the double header not giving up a run at 3-0, and 2-0.

Game one got started with a four-run bottom half of the first, the first three hitters all reached safely and led to a score within the first two batters. St. Thomas then added another four runs in the bottom half of the third to bust the game wide open.

Bianca Palacios delivered a two-RBI single to left field followed by Ariana Manzanarez sending one right down the left field line for a stand up double to bring in Palacios.

Sophia Negron scored the ninth run in the bottom of the fourth after Webber scored in the top half to regain the eight-run lead and end the game early.

The Bobcats scored a run in the first inning of each game scoring two in game two and one in game three. 

Negron started off the game getting hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a Natalie Kopicova single to left field. Marla Lavado then delivered the squeeze bunt that brought in Kopicova. Negron started off the bottom sixth the same away as the first and scored on a sacrifice fly from Kopicova to make it 3-0.

The senior continued to get the offense going in game three scoring the first run off a wild pitch after leading off with a triple down the right field line. Gabriella Gilbert helped deliver an insurance run as Sarah Descheene reached on a hit by pitch and scored on a ground ball through the right side.

The pitchers threw a gem throughout the series as Kaitlin Spalding picked up two wins, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out three. Abbigail Smith threw a seven inning complete game in game two allowing just three hits no earned runs and striking out six. Overall Smith threw 10 innings, allowed just four hits, no earned runs, picked up a win and save, and extended her streak to eight straight outing not allowing an earned and three straight without allowing a walk. Melody Vizcaino started game three and went 3.2 innings allowed just four hits and one walk , but no earned runs.

As a pitching staff allowed just one earned run and two walks in 19 innings pitched, going 15 straight scoreless. The staff is currently eighth in the country in earned run average with Smith leading the way as third in the NAIA and first in the Sun Conference with a 0.49 ERA.

This is the first sweep of the Warriors since 2017 and first time winning the series since 2018. The Bobcats now move to third in the conference at 10-5.

St. Thomas will host Florida National The Colonel on Tuesday, April 11 in a double-header of non-conference action starting at 12 p.m.

-STU-