#3 Tampa Too Much For Division I Harvard

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The #3 Spartans (21-4) scored in every inning but the first on their way to an 11-5 win over the Harvard University Crimson (2-2). The Division I team was the first Tampa has faced since defeating Quinnipiac in 2005.

Anthony Perez had a rough second inning on the mound for the Spartans. After retiring the first batter, he gave up a single to Harry Douglas, then hit the next three batters. Perez also had a throwing error on a failed pick-off attempt and a wild pitch that led to a run. However, Harvard was only able to score two runs.

The Spartans fought back in their half of the second with two runs of their own. Paul Cruz led off with a double down the left field line and later scored on a throwing error by the first baseman. Chris Rosenbaum also scored on Junior Mejia's sacrifice fly to right field.

Craig Corrado scored in the third on Roberto Mena's RBI single to right, after he had a single and a stolen base of his own, giving Tampa their first lead at 3-2.

Justin Roth tied the game for the Crimson in the top of the fourth with a solo-homerun to left off of relief pitcher Scott Chapman.

The Spartans once again took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Ryan Williams crossed the plate on another error on the pitcher on a pick off attempt.

Garrett Maines sacrifice fly in the fifth gave Tampa a 5-3 lead after Mena crossed the plate.

Matt Vance tied the game with a big two-out, two RBI double down the left field line for Harvard in the top of the sixth.

For the third time in the game Tampa took the lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth, this time off the bat of Corrado, scoring Ryan Kennedy.

The Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, extending their lead to three runs. Mejia drove in Rosenbaum with a single through the right side, and he later scored on Troy Ferguson's triple to deep center field.

Tampa tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, Charlie Raley and Nolan Brannon picked up RBI hits.

Perez started the game and Chapman tossed 2.2 innings, but Scott Leffler earned the win. Leffler threw an inning and a third and earned his first victory of the season. Jonathan Holt pitched two innings and recorded four strikeouts for his 12th save of the season.

The Spartans next take the field against conference foe #4 Florida Southern in Lakeland this Friday at 7:00 pm.