Spartans Power Their Way to Three Game Sweep of Saint Leo

Box score

Tampa, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team completed the weekend sweep of the Saint Leo Lions on Saturday, riding the long ball to wins of 13-4 and 9-4 respectively.

The Spartans continued to hit well against Saint Leo in the first game of the doubleheader, crossing the plate in every inning except the seventh. Saint Leo scored the first run of the game in the top of the first as Jerry Gonzalez scampered across the plate on an RBI groundout by Eric Spicer.

Craig Corrado got the party started for Tampa in the bottom of the first, blasting a solo home run to left center field to tie the score at 1-1. Roberto Mena continued to swing a hot bat, hitting a two run homer to left field, extending the Spartan lead to 3-0 after one.

Tampa extended the lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the third on RBI singles from Chris Rosenbaum and Junior Mejia before breaking the game open in the eighth to seal the victory for the Spartans, scoring three runs to widen the lead to 13-4 as Mena hit his second two-run home run of the day in the inning.

The second followed a similar script as the first, with Saint Leo grabbing the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run blast to right field by Spicer. Tampa began the rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run on an RBI single by Jose Jimenez that scored Ryan Kennedy.

The Lions extended the lead to 4-0 with RBI singles in the third and fourth innings by Spicer and Jason Hamm, a lead that would not last for long. Charlie Raley answered the call in the fourth, belting his first home run of the year, a three run shot to right field, to tie the game at 4.

Not to be outdone, Mena added to his already impressive game with a two run double in the fifth that scored Jimenez and Corrado before Nolan Brannon hit a three run home run to right center to give Tampa the 9-4 lead.

The Spartans got an unbelievable day from a red hot Mena, going 5-6 with two home runs and seven RBIs to lead his team to the pivotal sweep of conference rival Saint Leo. Raley added four hits to Mena's effort, driving in three runs with his home run in the second game.

Ross Jackson got the win in the first game, allowing four runs on ten hits in five innings of work to earn his sixth win of the season. Scott Leffler picked up the victory in the second game in relief of Scott Chapman, throwing two perfect innings to earn his fourth win of the year.

The Spartans are back in action next Friday when they play host to their conference opponent Rollins. First pitch is slated for 7:00 pm.