Spartans Overcome Deficit Then Shutout Eckerd in Double Header Sweep
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | X | 13 | 15 | 2 |
TAMPA, Fla. - The #3 University of Tampa (29-6, 7-2) baseball team was hitless for half of game one but came back to defeat Eckerd (13-16, 3-9) 13-9 then shutout the visitors 5-0 in game two.
Just as they did a night earlier the Tritons put four runs on the board in the first inning. Eckerd only managed two hits but four Johnny Williams' walks led to Tampa's second dismal start in a row. Steve Skriner and Thomas Gay each had two RBI hits in the inning.
Eckerd scored their fifth run in the second on an RBI fielder's choice from Wes Williams, sending Matt Heller across the plate.
The Tritons added another run in the fourth with Alfredo Cabale's RBI single as the led by a 6-0 margin.
Eckerd starter Phil Weylie held the Spartans hitless for four innings but the Tampa offense exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the fifth, including Roberto Mena's grand slam homerun, his third homer of the season. Paul Cruz broke up the no-hitter with a lead off single. Craig Corrado, Jose Jimenez and Ryan Williams each had RBI in the frame.
Cabale gave Eckerd the lead back in the top of the sixth with a two-run homerun to right off Scott Leffler, making the score 8-7.
The Spartans regained the lead in the seventh on Cruz's triple to left center that scored Corrado and Mena. Tampa scored four more runs in the inning and took a 13-8 lead.
Eckerd fought for a run in the eighth as Williams was able to score Heller on a groundout to short.
Leffler (2-0) picked up the win for Tampa as Mike Fallin suffered the loss and fell to 0-2.
Tampa scored first in the second game as Jimenez's groundout to second was able to drive in Kennedy.
Nolan Brannon's hot shot up the middle drove in Cruz for Tampa's second run in the second inning.
Jimenez connected for his 10th homerun of the season in the third inning. With Kennedy on base the Spartans took a 4-0 lead.
The Spartans fifth run came in the fourth inning as T. Ferguson's single brought around Brannon, who earlier doubled.
Kevin Ferguson was impressive as he pitched six scoreless innings allowing only two hits as he improved his record to 6-2 on the year.
The Spartans travel to south Florida to face Sunshine State Conference foe, Nova Southeastern in a three game set starting Friday at 6:00 pm.