Spartans Sweep Season Series Against Eckerd

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The fifth-ranked University of Tampa baseball team won its third consecutive game with an 11-2 victory over Eckerd College to sweep the four-game season series with the Tritons. With the win, the Spartans improve to 31-7-1 on the season, while the Tritons fall to 13-30.

Brett McKean was the story of the night for Spartans, doubling his career-high in hits with a 4-4 night against Eckerd. The sophomore outfielder also scored one run and drove in two in his first career start. Paul Cruz and Jesus Barroso chipped in with two hits apiece. Cruz and Steven Broschofsky led the Spartans with two runs scored; Barroso, McKean, and Leo Alvarez led the team with two RBI.

Dan Foltz got the start for the Spartans and threw four shutout innings to record his fifth win of the season. The freshman allowed two hits and struck out three in his four innings of work. Nate Titus and Pat House each threw a shutout inning in relief, combining to allow two hits and strike out three.

The Spartans got off to a fast start with four runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by McKean, a two-run home run by Alvarez, and an RBI single by Barroso to take an early 4-0 lead. The home run was the third of the season for Alvarez, which ties him for second on the team.

Tampa opened an 11-0 lead with seven runs in the fourth, sending 13 men to the plate in the inning. The Spartans capitalized on two walks, one hit batter, and three RBI singles after the first eight men reached base safely. Eckerd broke up the shutout bid with two runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Jeff Bromley, and a sacrifice fly by Stephen Pelc to cut the lead to 11-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh.

The Spartans are back in action on Friday as they travel to Saint Leo for the first game of a three-game Sunshine State Conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.