No. 1 Tampa Concludes Series Sweep of Bentley in 2015 Opener

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 ranked University of Tampa baseball team defeated the visiting Bentley College Falcons by a 15-2, Monday afternoon from UT Baseball Stadium. The victory, earned by sophomore righty Jake Mielock, propelled the Spartans to a 3-0 record on the season.

The Spartans jumped on the scoreboad in the bottom of the first inning due to an RBI single from senior Nick Tindall which scored newcomer Casey Scoggins. The Falcons responded with two runs in the top of the second to take the lead, but Tampa refused defeat, tying the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third off a Stephen Dezzi homer.

Tampa's offense broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, racking up five runs to take a 7-2 lead. Dezzi, Nick Flair, Tindall, Cody deNoyelles, Joe Walsh, and Ty Cooler each registered hits in the inning.

The bottom of the sixth inning looked similar to the fifth, as the Spartans combined for eight runs on eight hits and a walk. Dezzi led off the inning with a walk, which deNoyelles followed up with a two-run homer. Tindall then doubled to give the Spartans a running in scoring position, and pinch hitter Chris Pagliarulo answered the call with an RBI single up the middle. With the offense in full swing, Keaton Aldridge, Vin Cosenzo, Cooler, Brett Jones, and Flair strung five hits together to push five more runs across the plate and take a 15-2 lead. Bentley would never answer back.

Junior lefty Brad Hencke started the game on the mound for the Spartans, tossing four complete innings and allowing two runs on five hits. The starter struck out seven and received a no decision in the outing.

Sophomore RHP Jake Mielock toed the rubber for the fifth, sixth, and seven innings, earning the victory after allowing just one hit and striking out three in ten batters faced.

Juniors Zac Favre and Chris Frosch tossed the top of the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, combining for two strikeouts and allowing no hits or walks in the outing.

Tampe will return t action on Saturday, February 7 with a doubleheader against Georgia College. The first game of the afternoon is set for 1 p.m. from UT Baseball Stadium. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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