Spartans Close Regular Season With Sweep Over Barry

TAMPA, Fla. — The No. 4 University of Tampa baseball team closed out the 2026 regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Barry University on Friday at Tampa Baseball Field, securing its seventh consecutive 40-win season.

The Spartans finished the regular season at 41–8 overall and 27–3 in Sunshine State Conference play after posting a 9–5 victory in game one and a 10–4 win in the finale.

Tampa enters postseason play after capturing its 25th Sunshine State Conference championship and sixth consecutive league title.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Game One Final: Tampa 9, Barry 5
Game Two Final: Tampa 10, Barry 4
Records: Tampa (41–8, 27–3 SSC), Barry (23–26, 8–21 SSC)
Location: Tampa Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One – Tampa 9, Barry 5

Tampa built an early lead with runs in each of the first four innings.

Gunnett Carlson opened the scoring with an RBI single before the Spartans plated three runs in the third inning behind RBI hits from Nik Pereira and Jesse Ponce.

Barry answered with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Lee-Anthony Santiago and a two-run triple by Luca Mendez to briefly cut the deficit to one.

The Spartans responded immediately, reclaiming momentum in the sixth inning as Carlson delivered another RBI single. Tampa added insurance runs late to secure the 9–5 victory.

Oscar Hernandez delivered a dominant relief outing, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win.

Game Two – Tampa 10, Barry 4

The Spartans continued the offensive momentum in the finale, scoring in six different innings while totaling 15 hits.

Brayden Woodburn and Jhoander Irigoyen opened the scoring in the first inning with back-to-back doubles for a 1–0 lead.

Tampa added another run in the second when Luke Fikar delivered an RBI single, then broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Jake Books doubled home a run, Gunnett Carlson followed with an RBI single, and Jack Martinez added a two-run single to extend the lead to 6–0.

Irigoyen added a solo home run in the fourth inning, while the Spartans continued to tack on insurance runs late behind RBI singles from Martinez and a run-scoring double from Casey King.

Barry mounted a late rally with a three-run homer in the seventh, but Tampa's bullpen closed the door to complete the sweep.

John Luke Glanton earned the win after allowing three runs over 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts. Alex Laiche and Kenney Robinson combined to finish the game out of the bullpen.

TOP PERFORMERS

Game One

Gunnett Carlson: 3-for-5, 4 RBI — led offensive attack
Brayden Woodburn: 2-for-5, 2 runs scored — multi-hit effort atop lineup
Jordan Evans: 4 runs scored, 3 BB, SB — created pressure throughout
Jesse Ponce: double, 2 RBI — key extra-base hit
Nik Pereira: RBI single — contributed during third-inning rally
Oscar Hernandez (W, 1–1): 3.1 IP, 0 R, 3 K — shutdown relief outing
B.J. Bailey: 4.2 IP, 6 K — strong start

Game Two

Jhoander Irigoyen: 3-for-4, HR, double, 2 RBI — powered middle of lineup
Jack Martinez: 3-for-4, double, 3 RBI — big production offensively
Nik Pereira: 2-for-3, 2 BB — reached base four times
Jake Books: double, RBI — key extra-base hit in third inning
Gunnett Carlson: RBI single — continued strong series
Brayden Woodburn: double, run scored — ignited first inning
Casey King: pinch-hit RBI double — added insurance late
Luke Fikar: RBI single, stolen base — productive offensive game

Pitching:
John Luke Glanton (W, 11–2): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 K — strong regular-season finale start
Alex Laiche: 2.0 IP, 3 ER — bridged middle innings
Kenney Robinson: 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 K — effective finish

UP NEXT

The Spartans will now await the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship selection show, which airs Sunday, May 10 at 10 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. The 56-team field will feature 21 automatic qualifiers and 35 at-large bids.

Regional competition begins Thursday, May 14, while the championship finals conclude June 6 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.