SAINT LEO, Fla. - The No. 21-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University softball squad split a pair of games at the Saint Leo Spring Invitational on Saturday evening. The Pirates dropped a close 1-0 decision to No. 18 Tampa, but rebounded with an 8-0 win in six innings over Lindenwood (Mo.).

Armstrong moved to 9-2 on the season with the two contests and the Pirates will wrap up action by taking on Pittsburg State at 3:00 p.m. and host Saint Leo at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

In game one, the Pirates' Megan Barnwell and Tampa's Kayla Cox matched up in a good pitcher's duel. The only run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Meagan Burke's two-out RBI single scored pinch runner Katie Bannon with a run.

Cox (3-1) hurled a four-hit shutout to notch the win for Tampa, walking four while striking out 10. Barnwell (6-1) took the loss, giving up seven hits and one run in six innings, striking out five.

In the second game, the Pirates jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead with five first-inning runs against Lindenwood, sparked by Alexis Mercer's three-run double. Whitney Galloway added an RBI double and Heather Walker capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Armstrong then plated three runs in the sixth inning on a Baillie Temples RBI single, a wild pitch that scored April Jowers and a sacrifice fly by Mercer.

Caitlin Campbell (3-1) notched the win for the Pirates, hurling six innings of two-hit shutout ball, walking one while striking out three. Lindenwood starter Kendall Ryndak (1-2) took the loss, giving up four hits and five runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Mercer went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in game two while April Jowers notched two hits in each of the two games, extending her current hitting streak to 17 games, dating back to last season.