Spartans Edge Flagler in Home Opener

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team (3-0) emerged victorious in its home opener on Tuesday, defeating Flagler College (3-2) by a score of 15-10.

Flagler took the early lead in the first, scoring the game's first run courtesy of a home run by Joey Rivera. The Spartans pushed three runners across the plate in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead, as Tampa got an RBI groundout from Ryan Williams that scored Nolan Brannon. Garrett Maines and Steven Broschofsky then scored on a passed ball and wild pitch, respectively.

The Saints regained the lead with four runs in the top of the third, capitalizing on three Spartan errors, one of which allowed two runs to score on what would have been a routine single to left field by Glenn Kiture.

Nolan Brannon gave the Spartans an 8-5 lead the next half inning with a three-run blast to right field that hit nearly two-thirds of the way up the outfield netting, scoring Jose Jimenez and Paul Cruz who recorded back-to-back walks to open the inning.

With the score 9-8 in favor of the Spartans, Flagler's Cale Owen drove in two runs with a double to left field, giving the Saints a 10-9 lead going into the Tampa half of the sixth inning.

The Spartans answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning after a couple of Saint miscues to take the lead for good. Tampa's offense added four more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including a solo home run by Maines, to give itself the final margin of victory at 15-10.

Stephen Merino collected three hits and two RBIs, including an RBI double in the third inning. Brannon added to his good start to the season with a 2-4 night that included his first home run of the season, a three-run blast in the third inning.

Joshua Bowman made his first career start for the Spartans, lasting three innings in which he gave up five runs, only one of which was earned. He also had four walks and four strikeouts. Tyler Nessmith picked his second win of the season, pitching one and one-third innings of relief with one strikeout.

Tampa returns to action on Friday in the first game of a three-game home series against Palm Beach Atlantic. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.