Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla.- Lynn University's softball team lost the final game of the Sunshine State Conference series against 21st-ranked Barry on Sunday afternoon, 12-10. The Fighting Knights lose the series 2-1 and move to 20-19 overall and 10-8 in the SSC. Sara Vazquez went 4-for-5 at the plate while Kaci Vassallo had a pair of hits with five runs batted in.
Kelly Martinez drove in three runs with a home run in the top of the first inning to put Barry ahead early marking the third time the Bucs scored in the opening frame this series. Lynn got one back in the bottom of the inning when Amanda Casillas drew a bases loaded walk to score Vazquez who led off the inning reaching on a dropped fly ball.
Kristina Pazienza hit a leadoff solo home run in the top of the second inning which ended Lynn's starting pitcher Katelyn Key's day prematurely. Missy Montgomery came in to pitch and allowed a solo home run to Ashley Fernandez which extended Barry's lead to 5-1. Lynn stranded bases loaded in the bottom half of the frame for the second consecutive inning after Francais Olexa was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Vazquez and Carvatta hit back-to-back singles loading the bases but Barry's Haley Wiseman would escape the jam with a pop up by Wright and struck out Vassallo to end the inning.
Martinez hit her second three-run home run of the game in the top of the fourth to put the Buccaneers ahead 9-1. The Fighting Knights once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning and Carvatta reached on a fielder's choice in which Jasmine Campos beat out the play at the plate and scored the Blue & White's second run of the game.
Manya Lopez crushed a two-run home run to start off a fifth inning rally for the Fighting Knights. Vazquez drove in Campos making it a 9-5 game. With bases loaded and one out, Vassallo drove one deep over the right centerfield wall for her second home run in as many days tying the game 9-all.
Olexa worked the Buccaneers down to their final strike of the game with bases loaded but Espinosa hit a bases clearing triple to give Barry a 12-9 lead in the top of the seventh. A leadoff single by Vazquez gave the Fighting Knights a comeback opportunity. Vassallo drove her in with a double to left center field but the Blue & White eventually fell 12-10.
Olexa was credited with the loss for her 10th of the season as she pitched three and a third innings of relief. Lynn returns home on Friday, April 18, when the Fighting Knights host Saint Leo at 3 pm for the first game of a three-game SSC series.
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