Spartan Offense Returns to Form Against Slippery Rock

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The seventh-ranked University of Tampa baseball team (15-4-1) utilized some timely hitting, as well as a pair of miscues by the visiting Slippery Rock University (4-3) to coast to a 12-3 win over the Rock.

The Spartans opened the scoring in the second inning on a solo home run to center field by Jared Simon to take an early 1-0 lead. The long ball is Simon's third of the season, and ties him with Garrett Maines for the team lead.

Tampa broke the game open in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs on seven hits and one error by the Rock. The Spartans sent 12 men to the plate in the inning, getting two hits, both singles, from Rob Kane. After a leadoff single by Kane, Paul Cruz bunted a ball down the third base line for a single, putting runners on first and second with no outs.

The next batter, Jesus Barroso, reached on a misplayed sacrifice attempt, allowing Kane to score from second base, and put runners on second and third for Jose Jimenez with no outs. Following a sacrifice fly by Jimenez, Nolan Brannon, Simon, and Steven Broschofsky hit back-to-back-to-back doubles to push three more runs across and give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. Tampa scored two more runs in the inning to open an 8-0 lead after three.

Slippery Rock scored its first run of the game in the fourth on back-to-back singles by Jim Eimiller and Matt Messer after a two out walk by MJ Parsons. The Spartans scored two more runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to open a 12-1 lead after five on three fielder's choices and a passed ball. The Rock added two more runs in the eighth to cut the Spartan advantage to 12-3.

Daniel Foltz made his second start of the season, and picked up his second collegiate win. The 6-2 freshman pitched five strong innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking one and striking out three. Ryan McCormick, Jimmy Moser, and Pat House each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

Brannon, Simon, Kane and Brandan Teague led the team with two hits each, while Broschofsky collected a team-high three RBIs. The two hits for Kane marks a career high. Simon picked up his second double of the season, along with his third home run of the campaign.

The Spartans are back in action at home on Wednesday in the first of two games against Shippensburg College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.