#1 Spartans Power Past Rollins 9-2

Box score

WINTER PARK, Fla. - After being named to the top spot in the national poll earlier this afternoon, the No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans took down Sunshine State Conference opponent Rollins College by a score of 9-2 on Tuesday night in Winter Park. With the win, Tampa improves to 5-0 on the season, while the Tars drop to 3-3.

The Spartans rode a strong outing from starter John Wiedenbauer (1-0) and two homers from right fielder Steven Broschofsky en route to the victory. Tampa put up four runs in the third inning off Rollins' Steven Gropler (0-1).

Junior Tyler Cox and senior Jesus Barroso singled to start the inning before designated hitter Mike Schwartz doubled down the right field line, scoring Cox. Jose Jimenez followed with a sacrifice fly before Steven Broschofsky blasted his first home run of the night over the left field wall.

In the Rollins College fourth, the Tars put together three consecutive hits against Wiedenbauer to plate two, cutting the Tampa lead in half. That was all Wiedenbauer would allow as he finished with five innings of work to earn the win.

In the top of the sixth, Broschofsky stroked his second home run of the game, another two-run shot to push the Spartan lead back to four runs. Cox added an RBI single in the inning to put the score at 7-2. Tampa added two more in the eighth when, after Jimenez walked and Dagmar Pena double, Casey Albanese drove in both runners with a single to right field.

A.J. Pinera and Jimmy Moser combined to throw four more shutout innings to hold the lead. Pinera collected five strikouts in relief of Wiedenbauer, throwing three innings of two-hit ball before Moser tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Spartans travel to Livingston, Ala. this weekend to take on West Alabama and Southern Arkansas. UT will offer live stats through www.tampaspartans.com. Fans may also sign up for eScores through the website, a free service that sends text messages on Spartan athletic events.