First Inning Onslaught Leads Spartans to Victory in NCAA II South Regional

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans defeated the No. 9 Valdosta State University Blazers 17-7 in the second round of the NCAA II South Regional Baseball Tournament. With the win Tampa improves to 44-8 on the year while the Blazers fall to 43-16.

The Spartans were the visiting team in the game and jumped on the board early. Tampa batted around in the top of the first, notching seven runs on four hits. The Valdosta State starter was not able to record an out in the frame before giving way to a reliever.

In the first, Tampa batters reached twice via the walk and twice via the hit-by-pitch. With the bases loaded Mike Blanke was plunked to bring home the lead-off batter, and first run of the game, Correy Figueroa who led off the game by being hit-by-a-pitch. Leftfielder Jared Simon then singled into right field bringing home Patrick Donahue who singled behind Figueroa. Brad Roberts was then walked to force Blank home, before Dylan Brown doubled to left field, plating two more runs.

In the third the Spartans added four more runs. Roberts doubled and stole third base to get things started. Tampa then strung together three straight singles before Mike Schwartz doubled, driving in a pair to put Tampa ahead 11-0.

In the seventh the Spartans added a pair of runs behind three hits, including a run scoring double from Schwartz and sacrifice fly from Blanke. Tampa added two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to cement its total at 17 for the night.

Roberts finished the day 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI, and three walks, which tied his career best. Schwartz, the designated hitter, finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. He also walked twice to stretch his total to 68, a nation's best. Brown, the rightfielder, finished the night 3-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI. Figueroa also scored three times and drove in two runs, with a 3-for-5 night at the plate.

Sean Bierman started for Tampa; he allowed four runs on six hits through four innings of work. Tampa then used a combination of Aaron Gerbasi, Carmine Giardina, A.J. Pinera, Max Krueter and Austin Evans to get through the final five innings.

Pinera earned the win, improving to 7-1 on the year. He threw 1.1 innings of no-hit baseball, while surrendering only a walk.

Tampa has won the first two games of the regional tournament 10 other times in program history. In nine of those 10 appearances the Spartans have gone on to win the regional tournament and advance to the NCAA Finals.

Tampa will be in action on Saturday at 7 p.m. and will take on the winner of the Southern Arkansas - Florida Southern game.

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