Tampa Pitching Shines as Spartans Sweep Florida Tech

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The #7 University of Tampa (36-9, 14-4) swept #25 Florida Tech (27-19, 11-10) by the scores of 5-0 and 6-1. Tampa starting pitching held the Panthers to only three runs in four games this season.

In the first game of the double header the starting pitching was dominant for the first half of the ball game, but eventually the Spartans broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Six straight Tampa players reached base and the visitors put five runs on the board. Ryan Kennedy's line drive back up the middle scored Chris Rosenbaum and Junior Mejia for the first runs of the game. Craig Corrado drove in two runs with his second hit of the ball game, a double to the left center gap. Paul Cruz also scored in the big inning on passed ball.

Ross Jackson (5-4) was sensational for the Spartans as he went eight innings, scattered six hits and struck out six batters. Every time he looked to be in trouble, Jackson was able to stop the Panthers momentum by inducing groundouts, three for double plays.

Corrado was impressive in the batters box as he had four hits for the game and showed power as well as speed with hits ranging from a double in the gap to a bunt single.

Eric Trillas' double in the second inning of game two gave the Panthers their first lead of the day as Sam Palice came around to score from first.

Mejia led off the top of the third with a single for the Spartans then moved to second on Cruz's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Corrado singled and Mejia score to tie the game at one.

Tampa's aggressive base running led to two runs in top of the fourth. Charlie Raley started the inning off reaching base with an infield single. Troy Ferguson singled to right and Raley hustled to third drawing an errant throw that wound up in the third base dugout, allowing Raley to score. Ferguson scored on a wild pitch giving the Spartans a 3-1 lead.

Cruz's bases loaded single in the top of the sixth sent Rosenbaum and Ferguson across the plate and put the Spartans up 5-1.

Roberto Mena picked up an RBI in the seventh when his single to right scored Corrado, who finshed the weekend series with eight hits in 12 at bats.

Scott Chapman (6-0) started his first game in his Tampa career and was very effective in his six innings of work. He allowed only four hits and one run while striking out seven. Scott Leffler threw a perfect inning to close out the game.

The Spartans host Saint Leo University next Friday at 7:00 pm at The University of Tampa Baseball Stadium.