Box Score Clearwater, Fla.--On the final day of play at the Eckerd Softball Invitational, the Lady Hawks fell to the University of Tampa, 3-2, in extra innings.

The loss drops Shorter to 4-5 on the season in their last time out before conference play begins next weekend at Valdosta State.

Tampa scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Lady Hawks answered in the top of the fifth to tie the game 1-1 on Kayla Cooper's second homer of the season. In the eight, Shorter took the lead 2-1 as Maggie Meachum on a passed ball. However, in the bottom of the inning the Spartans tied things up, moving the game into the nine. Shorter failed to score in the top of the inning, and Tampa's Megan Paul singled to bring in Bre Setree for the 3-2 final score.

Julia Morrow earned the win for the Spartans, allowing one run on no hits with eight strikeouts over four innings. Kalei Kimbrell recorded the loss for Shorter after coming in during the sixth inning. During her 3.1 innings of work, Kimbrell allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

During the game, the Lady Hawks were held to one hit, Cooper's homer in the fifth.

Shorter will be back in action Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00 as they take on Valdosta State to begin conference play. The three game series with the Blazers will conclude Sunday with a single game beginning at 1:00.