Spartans Survive Late Rally to Eliminate Panthers

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The #1 seed University of Tampa (40-9-1) continued to post big offensive numbers, outlasting #4 seed Florida Tech (35-20-1) 10-7 and eliminating the Panthers from the NCAA II South Regional.

The Spartans reached the 40-win plateau for the sixth straight season, led by a 3 for 5 day from Jose Jimenez (Miami, Fla.) who collected three RBIs on the day. Senior Paul Cruz (Brandon, Fla.) also went 3 for 5, finishing a homerun shy of the cycle while collecting two RBIs off Tech starter Mike Piazza (5-4), who lasted four innings, allowing six runs on nine hits before Justin Arsenault came on in relief.

Arsenault didn't fare much better against the Spartan offense, allowing two runs while recording just one out. Panther reliever Eric Bua, who was tabbed with the loss last night against Catawba College, held the Spartans in check for the next three and two thirds, but the damage was done. The Spartans added two more in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Freshman Josh Bowman (5-0) got the nod for Tampa and held the Panthers scoreless through five before Tech broke through in the sixth for four runs thanks to a 3 RBI double by Tech shortstop JD Davidson. Junior Danny Keefe (North Port, Fla.) threw two and third scoreless innings before Anthony Perez (Miami, Fla.) came in to notch his sixteenth save of the season, second-most in all of Div. II, despite allowing three runs in the ninth.

Florida Tech's elimination leaves four teams remaining in the South Region. Tampa will face the winner of #2 Tusculum versus #3 Catawba at 11 a.m. tomorrow.