Four Home Runs Lead #6 Tampa Over Saint Leo

Box score

SAINT LEO, Fla. - The No. 6 University of Tampa baseball team continued to utilize its home run power, this time in a 11-3 victory over Sunshine State Conference opponent Saint Leo University in a nonconference matchup on Wednesday night. The Spartans (27-5) blasted four homers in the game to back starter Carmine Giardina against the Lions (14-17).

Larry Walicki was the first Spartan to go yard in the contest, launching a three-run shot to centerfield to push the score to 5-0 after Tampa plated a couple of first inning runs. Two batters later, Patrick Donahue doubled to center before Dylan Brown stroked his sixth four-bagger of the season. Catcher Mike Blanke got in the action in the fifth when he lined a home run over the left field wall to put Tampa up 8-1.

Giardina (3-1) started the contest on the hill for the Spartans allowing just three runs, two earned. The lefty gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out four before exiting with one out in the sixth and a five-run lead.

Sophomore Aaron Gerbasi entered in relief with runners on the corners. Gerbasi proceeded to pick off the Saint Leo first base runner and induce a ground ball to second to end the Lion rally. Gerbasi threw 2.2 hitless, scoreless innings for Tampa and struck out three.

In the ninth, junior Dan Catalano went deep for his fourth homer of the year, plating Tyler Cox and Patrick Donahue to close out the Spartan scoring. Michael Park tossed a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

UT returns to league play this weekend when No. 15 Florida Tech comes to town for a three-game set beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers eScores, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.