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Box Score 2 BOCA RATON, Fla.- Lynn University's softball team split its double header against rival-Barry on Saturday afternoon at the Lynn Softball Field. Barry took game one, 5-3, but a two-run home run by senior Kaci Vassallo in game two lifted Lynn to a 5-4 victory in game two. Lynn improves to 20-18 overall and earns its 10th SSC win of the season marking its first double-digit season in the wins column since 2004.
Barry tacked on a pair of runs in the first inning of game one and took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third when Dee Espinosa led off with a solo homerun for a three-run lead and Kristina Pazienza hit a sacrifice fly with one out to drive in the second Bucs run of the inning.
Francais Olexa hit her first career homerun in the bottom of the fifth cutting into Barry's lead when she drove in Amanda Casillas for a 4-2 Bucs lead. Espinosa hit her second solo shot of the game in the top of the seventh inning for an insurance run for BU who led 5-2 but Leanne Wright's RBI single with two outs in the bottom half of the frame showed hope in a Lynn rally but the Fighting Knights fell 5-3 in game one.
Missy Montgomery was credited with the loss moving to 12-6 on the season when she pitched three innings allowing four runs on six hits. Olexa came on in relief and threw the remainder of the game allowing one run on four hits in four innings pitched. Christina Carvatta went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored leading the Fighting Knights offense.
Haley Wiseman earned her 14th win of the season for the Bucs throwing five and a third innings allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out five Fighting Knights. Taylor Sabol earned her first save of the season in one and two thirds innings work allowing one run on two hits.
In game two, Barry once again took the lead in the top of the first inning, this time on a sacrifice fly by Julie Brito. The Fighting Knights wasted no time in responding when Carvatta singled through the left side. She advanced to second when Wright drew a walk. Carvatta later stole third and advanced on a throwing error by the Bucs catcher to tie the game 1-all. Vassallo singled the left field to drive in Wright for the go-ahead run.
Barry went on to score one run in each of the next two innings to lead 3-2. Lynn's offense dominated in the bottom of the fifth inning when Carvatta hit a one-out single through the right side. Wright doubled through the left side driving in Carvatta to tie the game 3-3. Vassallo stepped into the batter's box with Wright in scoring position for the second time in the game. The senior hit a bomb deep over the right field fence for the go-ahead run. Barry threatened in the top of the sixth scoring one run on a throwing error by Olexa but the Fighting Knights held on to win 5-4 splitting the twinbill.
Olexa (6-5) earned the win throwing a complete game allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits while striking out a pair of Bucs. Sabol picked up the loss going four and a third innings allowing all five of Lynn's runs but struck out four Knights. Carvatta went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored while Vassallo had a pair of hits with a three runs batted in.
The two teams will meet for the rubber match of the series on Sunday, April 12, for a 12 pm game. Fans can follow the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.
