Tampa Baseball Tops Rollins in NCAA South Regional
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
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2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 9 | 13 | 1 |
TAMPA, Fla. — The No. 2 seed University of Tampa baseball team continued its postseason run Friday night with a 9–3 victory over No. 3 seed Rollins College in NCAA South Regional action at Tampa Baseball Field.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 43–8 overall and advanced to the South 2 Regional championship round. Tampa will face the winner of Saturday afternoon's elimination game between No. 6 seed West Alabama and Rollins, scheduled for 1 p.m.
Because of the tournament's double-elimination format, the Spartans would clinch the regional championship with a win Saturday night. If necessary, a second championship game would be played Sunday at 1 p.m.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Tampa 9, Rollins 3
Records: Tampa (43–8), Rollins (35–15)
Location: Tampa Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rollins grabbed an early lead in the first inning on a solo home run from Michael Furry, but Tampa answered immediately.
After Brayden Woodburn walked and Jhoander Irigoyen reached base, a Rollins balk allowed Woodburn to score the tying run before Walker Vanecek lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to give Tampa a 2–1 lead.
The Spartans extended the advantage in the second inning. Jesse Ponce singled and later scored on an RBI single from Luke Fikar before Woodburn launched a two-run home run to right field, pushing the lead to 5–1.
Tampa continued to add on in the middle innings. Irigoyen delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning, and Vanecek followed with a solo home run in the fifth to make it 7–1.
Rollins attempted to rally late with runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but Tampa answered in the bottom of the eighth when Woodburn doubled home Jordan Evans and Irigoyen followed with an RBI double to extend the lead back to six runs.
ON THE MOUND
B.J. Bailey continued his dominant season, improving to 13–0 after allowing just two runs over 7.2 innings while striking out five.
Tobin Moran worked the final 1.1 innings in relief to secure the victory and send the Spartans into the regional championship round.
TOP PERFORMERS
Brayden Woodburn: 3-for-3, HR, double, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 2 BB — reached base five times and powered the offense
Jhoander Irigoyen: 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, run scored — continued strong postseason stretch
Luke Fikar: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs scored — productive night offensively
Jordan Evans: 2-for-5, 2 doubles, run scored — sparked multiple scoring innings
Walker Vanecek: HR, 2 RBI, sacrifice fly — key middle-order production
Gunnett Carlson: double — added extra-base hit
Jesse Ponce: 1-for-3, run scored, BB — ignited second-inning rally
Jake Books: 2 BB — created pressure on the bases
Pitching:
B.J. Bailey (W, 13–0): 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 K — dominant outing in regional play
Tobin Moran: 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 K — closed out victory
NOTES
Tampa finished with 13 hits, including seven extra-base hits in the victory.
The Spartans remain unbeaten in the NCAA South Regional and have outscored opponents 17–7 through the first two games of tournament play.
UP NEXT
Tampa will play for the NCAA South 2 Regional championship Saturday night against the winner of the No. 6 seed West Alabama/No. 3 seed Rollins elimination game, scheduled for 1 p.m.