Pair of Spartan Rallies Fall Short Against Mocs

Box score TAMPA, Fla. -

The University of Tampa baseball team (13-4-1, 0-2) saw two late-inning rallies fall short in a doubleheader against Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Southern (9-11, 2-0). Southern took the first game by a score of 7-5, and survived a seventh inning rally by the Spartans in game two to sweep the twin bill with a 4-3 win.

The Spartans got on the board first in the third, taking advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch, tallying the game's first run on an RBI groundout by Ryan Williams that scored Jesus Barroso.

With Tampa holding a 1-0 lead, Florida Southern put up four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead over the Spartans. After three consecutive singles to open the inning, Zach Maggard hit a 1-2 pitch down the left field line for a two-run double. Following a double play that pushed Andrew Grutka across to make it 3-1, Arden McWilliams singled to center field, scoring Maggard.

Southern stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fifth on a solo home run by David Golliner to lead off the inning. Tampa cut the Mocs' lead to 5-2 with a run in the sixth inning on an RBI double to left field by Paul Cruz that allowed Junior Mejia to come around from first. Each team scored a run in the eighth to make it 6-3 heading into the ninth.

The Mocs added a run in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by Will Cherry to extend their lead to 7-3. Tampa got new life in the bottom of the ninth after Stephen Merino hit his first home run as a Spartan, a two out, two-run shot to left center that cut the lead to 7-5. The rally fell short, however, as the Mocs got the next batter to ground out to short.

Southern took a 4-0 lead in game two with two runs in each of the second and third innings. Tristan Rainone got things started for the Mocs in the second with an RBI single to left field, before Wade Kirkland doubled home a run to give Southern an early 2-0 lead. The Mocs extended the lead to 4-0 in the third with a pair of solo home runs by McWilliams and Golliner.

Tampa scored its first run of the game in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jose Jimenez that scored Mejia. The Spartans nearly tied the game in the seventh, getting a one out, two-run single with the bases loaded from Mejia, before the Mocs retired the final two batters to seal the 4-3 victory.

Garrett Maines led the Spartans with four hits in eight at-bats, while Merino, Mejia, and Cruz led the team with two RBIs each. Merino hit the Spartans' only home run of the day.

Kevin Ferguson made the start for Tampa in the first game, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Ferguson struck out seven and walked four in the loss. Scott Chapman pitched a complete game, his second of the season, in the second game, allowing four runs on nine hits. The senior struck out seven and walked one.

Tampa returns to the field for the series finale against Florida Southern tomorrow at 3:30 pm.