Spartans Run Win Streak to Six with Sweep of Wayne State

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The seventh-ranked University of Tampa baseball team won its fifth and sixth consecutive games by identical scores of 6-1 in a doubleheader against Wayne State University (Mich.). Tampa improves to 19-4-1 on the season while Wayne State falls to 2-5.

The Spartans scored in the first inning for the 12th time this season, when Jose Jimenez dropped a single into right field, allowing Paul Cruz to come in from third to score the game's first run, and give Tampa an early 1-0 lead.

Tampa extended the lead to 5-0 with four runs on three consecutive hits in the second. Following walks by Jared Simon and Junior Mejia, Cruz lined a single off the first base bag and down the right field line, allowing Simon to come around from second to put Tampa up 2-0.

The next batter, Jesus Barroso roped a double over the left fielder's outstretched glove, allowing Mejia and Cruz to score and give the Spartans a 4-0 lead. Jimenez stepped into the batter's box next, and lined an RBI single to center field, scoring Barroso and putting Tampa up 5-0 after two innings.

Tampa added another run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Cruz that scored Mejia to give the Spartans a 6-0 advantage heading into the fifth. The Warriors broke up the shutout bid in the ninth, when Charlie Dunneback hit a leadoff triple to deep center field, and scored on a one out single by Matt Williams to cut the lead to 6-1.

Scott Chapman got the start for Tampa in the first game, and threw a complete game, his third of the season. The senior from Deltona, Fla. did not allow a run until the ninth inning, giving up a total of one run on five hits, striking out six and walking none. Chapman now holds a 5-2 record on the season to lead the pitching staff in wins.

Tampa got on the board first in the second game, pushing one run across in the first on an RBI single by Cruz following Mejia's leadoff triple. Wayne State tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second, scoring its run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout, and a passed ball.

The Spartans took a 3-1 lead in the third, scoring two runs on four hits and a Wayne State error. Following back-to-back singles by Rob Kane and Mejia to open the inning, Cruz laid down a bunt to third base for a single, and advanced to second on the throwing error by the pitcher. The error allowed Kane to score from second, and Mejia to advance to third with no outs. Barroso followed with an RBI single to short that scored Mejia.

Leo Alvarez added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a two-run home run to left center to put Tampa up 5-1. The home run is Alvarez's first home run of the season, and the first of his Spartan career. After Kane singled and stole second, Mejia laced a single up the middle to score Kane from second to extend the Spartan lead to 6-1.

Josh Bowman took the mound for the Spartans in game two, allowing one unearned run on two hits in five innings of work. He also walked three and struck out five to pick up his first win of the season. Anthony Perez came into the game in the sixth, threw two scoreless innings to pick up his seventh save of the season in seven opportunities.

Mejia led the Spartans with five hits in six at-bats, including his first triple of the season. Cruz pitched in with four hits in six at-bats, and tied Barroso for the team lead with three RBIs on the day.

Tampa and Wayne State will conclude the three-game series tomorrow at noon.