No. 1 Tampa Stifles Stillman 3-2 in Regional Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 10 | 1 |
TAMPA, Fla. - With an eighth inning go-ahead run from Nick Tindall, the No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team outlasted Stillman College by a 3-2 score in the first day of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.
The Spartans continue with a 48-2 overall record while the Tigers dip to 30-20.
Both Tyler Ding and Tindall ended the game hitting 3-for-4 with a RBI, as the latter notched a pair of doubles. Junior Stephen Dezzi tallied a pair of hits, including a solo homer to right in the 3-2 Tampa win.
Stillman struck first during the top of the second inning, as Seth Booth laced a two-out single to right field, setting up Anthony Delgado to hit a RBI single, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead over UT.
Tampa would even the score and inning later, as Ding plated Orlando Rivera on a base-hit through the left side of the infield.
The two squads traded blows in the fifth frame as Tigers outfielder Paul Winterbottom posted a RBI single. UT designated hitter Dezzi matched with a solo home run to right, evening the score again at 2-2 through five complete innings.
Junior Tindall gave Tampa its first lead of the day as the catcher plated Ding from first on a clutch single to left field. The Spartans ended the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead.
Tampa starting pitcher Chase Sparkman limited the opponents to a pair of runs through six innings of work in his no-decision. Closer Kevin McNorton (7-0) earned the win as the senior tossed the final three innings, scattering two hits and sending two down on strikes.
Stillman hurler Tyler Vails (7-2) pitched eight innings, allowing three runs over 10 hits for the loss.
With the victory, the Spartans advance to face the loser of the Delta State v. Florida Southern matchup, scheduled for a 3 p.m. start Friday at the UT Baseball Field.
Please visit TampaSpartans.com for complete information as an official tournament page will be unveiled. All fans are also encouraged to use #NCAASR on Twitter.
Tickets will be available at the gate for $10 (adults) and $8 (students and senior citizens).
Tampa will offer live stats and a video webcast for all South Regional games. A link will be available at the regional Web page, and may also be accessed through TampaSpartans.tv.