Gonzalez Throws Complete Game to Advance No. 1 Tampa to Winner Take All Regional Final

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans collected 12 runs en route to beating Mississippi College.

Final: #1 Tampa 12, Mississippi College 2

Records: #1 Tampa (46-8), Mississippi College (35-22)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.  

All-Time Series: This was the 9^th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 6-3 against the Choctaws. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Edgardo Villegas led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Mike Valdez followed with a walk. After an out, Santiago Garavito drew a walk to load the bases. Maddox King then flew out to center field to bring home Villegas. Mid 2 | 1-0 Tampa
• Nico Saladino singled to center field to lead off the inning. J.D. Urso followed, drawing a walk to give the Spartans first and second with nobody out. Brayden Woodburn then reached on a fielder's choice that turned into a throwing error by the Choctaws' Shortstop to bring home Saladino. Mid 3 | 2-0 Tampa
• With one out, Urso launched a home run to left field. Mid 5 | 3-1 Tampa
• Jordan Williams led off the inning by drawing a walk. Saladino put down a bunt that he would reach base safely on an error by the Choctaws Pitcher. Urso followed with a single to left field to bring home J. Williams, and Saladino would advance to second. After a sac bunt by Woodburn, Villegas would single to right field to bring home Saladino. Valdez followed with a single to right field to bring home Urso.
  Cole Russo took advantage of a pinch hit opportunity with a home run to right center for a three-run shot. Mid 7 | 9-1 Tampa
• Russo doubled to left field to lead off the inning. After Garavito was plunked with a pitch, King laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both Spartans over 90 feet. J. Williams followed with a triple to right center to bring home Russo and Garavito. Saladino followed, grounding out to second base to bring home J. Williams. Mid 9 | 12-2 Tampa

AT THE PLATE: 

• Urso: 3-3 (HR), 3 BB's, 2 R's, & 2 RBI's
• Russo: 2-2, 2 R's, & 3 RBI's
• Valdez: 2-4, BB, R, & RBI
• Villegas: 1-3, BB, 2 R's, & RBI
• Saladino: 1-4, BB, 2 R's, & RBI
• J. Williams: 1-5, BB, 2 R's, & 2 RBI's
  

ON THE MOUND: 

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw a complete game, throwing 9 innings, striking out 3 while giving up 2 earned runs. Gonzalez received his 9^th win in the season, which improved to 9-1.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host the regional loser's bracket final as they take on Albany State again tomorrow, May 17^th, at 1:00 PM.