#12 Tampa Splits SSC Doubleheader with #21 Nova Southeastern

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans split Sunday's Sunshine State Conference doubleheader with No. 21 Nova Southeastern, falling 6-0 in game one but rebounding with a convincing 14-3 victory in game two. The split brings the Spartans to 23-9 on the season, 4-2 in the SSC, while the Sharks move to 24-6, 2-4 in the SSC.

The Tampa bats came alive in game two, posting 14 runs on 13 hits behind righty Alex Koronis (3-0). UT batted around in a first inning in which they put up four runs. Steven Broschofsky doubled in two before back-to-back Spartans were hit with a pitch to force in two more.

In the third, singles from Brett McKean and Tyler Cox drove in one run each and Jose Jimenez stroked a 2 RBI double to right-center to increase the Tampa lead to 8-1.

Nine different Spartans collected at least one RBI in the game. Broschofsky had three while Jimenez, McKean, and Casey Albanese each had two. Devin Gonzalez finished the game 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.

Koronis struck out 11 Sharks in just five innings of work while walking just one en route to the win. The Sharks' only runs came off the bat of Dexter Butler, who hit two home runs in the game. Nova Southeastern used seven different pitchers in the contest, but starter Isaac Hicks who managed just one-third of an inning was tabbed with the loss. Tommy Meagher came on in relief and threw two innings of scoreless ball.

The first game featured a strong outing by Tampa starter Danny Keefe. Keefe (2-3) struck out eight Sharks and walked none in six innings of work while allowing just three runs. The Sharks got on the board in the first with a sac fly and put up two more in the sixth. J.D. Martinez continued his tear against the Spartans, going 2-for-3 at the plate a day after going a perfect 4-for-4. Martinez stretched the lead to 3-0 when he cranked his twelfth home run of the year over the center field wall.

Nova Southeastern added two more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth off lefty Carmine Giardina who came on in relief. Giardina finished with two innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Right-hander Michael Fiers got the win for NSU, as only Cox and Jimenez collected multiple hits in the game, each stroking a single and a double.

The Spartans face off against Southern Connecticut State University on Thursday at 7 p.m. before SSC foe Lynn University travels to Tampa for a three-game conference set beginning Friday night.