Top-Ranked Tampa Holds Off Stillman in First Game of South Regional

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa (46-9) didn't score until the middle of the game, but they scored just enough to defeat the Stillman College Tigers (26-18) by the score of 5-3.

The heavily favored Spartans scored the game's first run with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning with Roberto Mena's drive over the left field fence. The solo home run was Mena's 13th of the season tying him with Ryan Kennedy for the team lead.

Chris Rosenbaum led off the fifth in for Tampa with a walk and later scored on Nolan Brannon's double to right center. Junior Mejia then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by the pitcher allowed him to reach second with Brannon scoring on the play. The Spartans' top hitter Craig Corrado doubled in Mejia with a rocket shot down the left field line to put the home team up 4-0.

Tampa scored another run in the sixth with Brannon's third hit of the day as he drove in his second run with a shot through the right side as Troy Ferguson scored.

The Spartans suffered a scare in the eighth as Stillman scored three runs on four hits but left runners on second and third as Jonathan Holt relieved Craig Benner to record the final two out in the frame. Holt tossed a perfect ninth for his 17th save of the season.

Anthony Perez (5-0) was excellent in his first post-season start of his collegiate career as he tossed six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out six Tiger batters. Joseph Woodley (4-4) took the loss for Stillman, as he went five innings giving up four runs on four hits.

Tampa moves to the second day of the South Regional and will face the loser of the #3 Carson-Newman/#4 Florida Gulf Coast matchup.