#4 Tampa Splits Doubleheader with Lynn
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The fourth-ranked University of Tampa baseball team took the first game of a doubleheader against #27 Lynn University 6-3 before falling to the Fighting Knights by a 8-2 score in game two. Tampa is now 27-6-1 on the season and 7-4 in the Sunshine State Conference, while Lynn moves to 25-11 overall and remains the top team in the SSC with a conference record of 9-3.
Junior Mejia collected four hits in seven at-bats in the twin bill, including a 3-4 game in game one. Jose Jimenez took over the team lead in home runs with his fourth of the season, a two-run shot that sailed over the ivy in right center in the third inning of game two. Nolan Brannon, Leo Alvarez, Ryan Williams, and Paul Cruz each had two hits on the day. Brannon also drove in two runs in the doubleheader. Steven Broschofsky saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end in game two.
Tampa took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one, scoring in the first inning for the 19th time this season. Following a leadoff walk by Cruz, and a sac bunt by Jesus Barroso, Williams hit a single up the middle for a one out, RBI single that scored Cruz from second for the game's first run. Brannon followed with a two out RBI single that scored Williams and put the Spartans up 2-0.
The Spartans added to the lead with a run in the second after a leadoff triple by Broschofsky, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Broschofsky then came across to put Tampa up 3-0 on a sac bunt by Rob Kane.
Lynn got a run back in the bottom of the second on a towering, opposite field home run by Nicholas Bleau, a solo shot that cut the Spartan lead to 3-1 after two innings. The Spartans scored two more runs in the top of the third, capitalizing on an errant throw by the Fighting Knights' left fielder to extend the lead to 5-1.
Lynn's Gabe Macdougall cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run, his 15th of the season that cleared everything in left field. Tampa added a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Brannon to make it 6-3.
Spartan closer Anthony Perez came into the game in the bottom of the eighth and shut the door, throwing two shutout innings to pick up his 11th save of the season, and claim the NCAA II lead in saves outright. Kevin Ferguson threw the first seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking three to pick up his fourth win of the season.
Tampa fell behind early in game two as Lynn scored once in the second inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Jason Ten Eyck. The Spartans jumped in front on Jimenez's fourth home run of the season, and his 35th of his career, a two-run shot over everything in right center to give the Spartans a slim 2-1 lead.
Lynn tied the score at 2-2 with one run in the third on an RBI double by Daniel Flores, and took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles by Macdougall and Kyle Holloway to take a 4-2 lead. The Fighting Knights added four runs in the sixth inning to push the lead to 8-2.
Scott Chapman got the start in game two for the Spartans, and pitched well despite allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings of work. Chapman also walked one and struck out two.
The Spartans are back in action tomorrow in the finale of the three-game series against Lynn. First pitch is scheduled for 11 am.