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Softball: Land O' Lakes Seize Scant Opportunities For Win

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: February 17, 2009

LAND O’ LAKES - It wasn't a flashy or overly convincing win Tuesday night, but Gators coach Jamie Martin was just fine with the end result.

Opportunistic bats in concert with solid Land O' Lakes pitching led the Gators to a 3-0 victory against River Ridge. The Gators needed just five hits for the win.

"A complete game," Martin said. "They came out hitting the ball well. They didn't finish too well, but we were able to score early and I think that helped us out a lot. The opportunities we did have, we really capitalized on them."

Land O' Lakes (2-0) received its first opportunity after getting out of a bases loaded first inning. At the bottom of that frame, Sam Adamo led off, reaching on an infield hit.

Adamo stole second on a 1-1 pitch and as River Ridge attempted to challenge the steal with a throw to second, the ball went into centerfield. That allowed Adamo to take third. Two batters later, Adamo scored on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the third inning, Adamo's triple scored Meghan Sfraga from third, giving Land O' Lakes a 2-0 advantage.

Two innings later, Adamo delivered again. This time the senior shortstop ripped a triple into the right field gap, scoring Cristina Rosario from first.

"She's been feeling kind of down and out," Martin said. "She's done an excellent job to go ahead and step up and be a leader on the team an turn her game around. She was kind of sick, but she came in here and focused and made sure she made same decent contact. She's just over 100 pounds, but she can pound the ball."

The Royal Knights (2-1) attempted to make things interesting in the seventh inning when Jessica Tamburri and Ana Alberti started the inning with singles. Three batters later, Audrey Abell walked.

The situation seemed just right for a River Ridge comeback, but a two-out, defensive snag by the Gators ended the game.

"The last inning, not giving up, coming back," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said of what made him happy. What frustrated him was his players' penchant for swinging for the fence. "They made a couple of nice plays and got a little lucky. We didn't produce."

Land O' Lakes pitcher Michelle Bradley (1-0) collected her first win of the night with five strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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