Jordan Williams Breaks Stolen Base Record in No. 1 Spartans Sweep Over Nova Southeastern

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans swept the doubleheader and the series against Nova Southeastern.

Final: #1 Tampa 11, Nova Southeastern 4

Final: #1 Tampa 7, Nova Southeastern 4

Records: #1 Tampa (29-6, 13-2 SSC), Nova Southeastern (14-16, 7-8 SSC)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.  

All-Time Series: This was the 83^rd & 84^th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 61-23 against the Sharks.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Jordan Williams led off the game for the Spartans, drawing a walk and then stealing second. Nico Saladino followed with a walk himself. After the Spartans attempted a double steal, J. Williams advanced to third, and Saladino was caught stealing at second. J.D. Urso followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home J. Williams for the game's first run. End 1 | 1-0 Tampa
• Lenny Ashby led off the inning, drawing a walk. With one out, Ashby then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a balk. Kevin Karstetter then doubled down the left field line, and Cole Russo followed with launching his fourth home run of the season, this time going the other way and sneaking it over the left field wall. End 2 | 4-0 Tampa
• Ashby once again led the inning off, reaching base and, this time, getting plunked with a pitch. With one out, Karstetter singled to left center, Ashby advanced to third on the play, and Karstetter advanced to second on the throw from the outfield to third base. After Russo was intentionally walked to load the bases, Maddox King was hit with a pitch as well to bring in Ashby and advance everyone 90 feet. End 4 | 5-3 Tampa
• Saladino led off the inning with a bang, taking advantage of a fastball right down broadway and turning it around over the right field wall for his second home run of the season. Urso followed with a double down the right-field line. Brayden Woodburn then drew a walk. Ashby then put down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to advance Woodburn to second and Urso to third. Santiago Garavito then drew a walk to set the Spartans up in business with the bases loaded. Karstetter then flew out to deep right field to bring home Urso and advance Woodburn to third. After Garavito stole second base, Russo followed with a double to left field to bring home Woodburn and Garavito. King followed with a single to center field to bring home Russo. King then stole second and would come into score on a J. Williams single to right. J. Williams then stole second and third to tie Eddie Cowans's all-time program single-season stolen base record of 52. End 5 | 11-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Russo: 2-3, BB, 2 R's, & 4 RBI's
• Karstetter: 2-3, R, & RBI
• Urso: 2-3, R, & RBI
• J. Williams: 1-3, 3 SB's (Tied UTampa Single Season - SB Record), BB, R, & RBI
• King: 1-3, SB, R, & 2 RBI's
• Saladino: 1-3, BB, R, & RBI

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 6 innings while striking out 2 and giving up 4 earned runs. Gonzalez received the win and now has improved to 4-1 on the season.
• Ethan Brown came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw 1 scoreless frame.
• Michael Alfonso came in relief for Brown. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 1.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Jhoander Irigoyen led off the inning with a double to left center. Mike Valdez would move Irigoyen to third on a ground out to the Shark's shortstop. With one out, Russo singled to left to bring home Irigoyen. End 2 | 1-0 Tampa
• J. Williams led off the inning with an infield single. J. Willaims then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Shark's cather on the play. J. Williams would break the record with 53 bags on the season. Saladino followed with a single through the left side to bring home J. Williams. End 3 | 2-0 Tampa
• With two outs, Irigoyen drew a walk. Valdez then tripled to the right center to bring home Irigoyen. End 5 | 3-2 Tampa
• King led off the inning, doubling to left center and advancing to third on a J. Williams sacrifice bunt. Saladino followed with a double-to-center field to bring King home. End 6 | 4-2 Tampa
• J. Williams doubled to left field to lead off the inning, and he would then steal third base. Saladino followed with a double down the left field line to bring home J. Williams. Urso then was plunked with a pitch. Woodburn then tried laying down a sacrifice bunt that was bunted right at the pitcher that the Shark's pitcher threw to third base to get Saladino out. Irigoyen followed with a single through the right side to bring home Urso and advance Wodburn to third. Valdez then flew put to center field to bring home Woodburn. End 8 | 7-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Saladino: 4-5, SB, & 3 RBI's
• J. Williams: 2-4, 2 SB's (Broke UTampa Single Season - SB Record), & 2 R's
• Russo: 2-2, & 2 BB's, & RBI
• Valdez: 2-3, BB, & 2 RBI's
• Irigoyen: 2-4, BB, 2 R's, & RBI
• Woodburn: 1-4, SB, & R
• King: 1-4 & R
• Karstetter: 1-5

ON THE MOUND:

• Jake Stipp started on the mound. He threw 4 innings while striking out 3 and giving up 2 earned runs. Stipp finished with a no decision on the afternoon.
• Robert Satin came in relief for Stipp. He threw 2 innings while striking out 1 and giving up 1 earned run. Satin received the win in his outing and improved to 2-0 on the season.
• Jacob Fletcher came in relief for Satin. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 2.
• Ryan Stefiuk came in relief for Fletcher. He threw 1 innings while striking out 1 and giving up 1 earned run.

HISTORY BOOKS:

• J. Williams broke Cowans's program record of stolen bases in a single season with his 53^rd of the season today.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host Rollins for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 11^th at 6:00 PM. Alumni Night will take place then as well, honoring the 2015 national championship team.