Rain Halts Play in Eighth With Spartans Leading 5-2

Box score

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Today's game between the sixth-ranked University of Tampa baseball team and the Eckerd College Tritons has been postponed until April 8 at 6 pm. Play was suspended due to rain in the top of the eighth inning with Tampa leading 5-2.

Tampa's leading RBI man Paul Cruz opened the scoring with a two-run triple in the second inning, his third of the season. Rob Kane and Junior Mejia came around to score, and give the Spartans an early 2-0 lead. Eckerd cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Chris Clinton hit a 0-1 slider over the left field fence for a leadoff solo home run.

Cruz added to his day with a two-run single in the fourth, allowing Kane and Mejia to score again and put the Spartans up 4-1. The Tritons closed the gap to 4-2 on a sacrifice fly by Clinton in the fifth, before Tampa extended the lead to 5-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Brannon.

Kevin Ferguson got the start for the Spartans in the weather-shortened game, lasting three innings while allowing one run on four hits, walking two and striking out two. John Wiedenbauer and Rick Hudson each threw two innings of relief before the rain delay. Wiedenbauer allowed one run on one hit, walking two and striking out two. Hudson pitched two shutout innings with two strikeouts.

Jesus Barroso led the Spartans with three hits in four at-bats, including a double to left field in the first. Cruz was 2-4 on the day with four RBI to remain the team-leader with 28 runs batted in this season. Steven Broschofsky and Mejia each had two hits; Kane and Mejia led the team with two runs scored.

As of now, the teams will play the final two innings on April 8 in St. Petersburg at 6 pm. Tampa's next game is on Tuesday when the Spartans travel to Miami to play Div. 1 Florida International. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.