Spartans Lose to ’Lopes in Extra-Inning Contest
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grand Canyon
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
|
Tampa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team fell to Grand Canyon University, 3-1, in an extra-inning contest on Friday night. The loss brings Tampa to 14-3 on the season while improving GCU to 9-12.
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Spartan Jake Schrader launched a one-run homer over the leftfield wall and into the second tier of the nets that surround the UT baseball field.
The Spartans were up 1-0 on the 'Lopes until the top of the ninth inning. In GCU's final attempt to tie it up, the team managed to do so. A bunt brought in a 'Lope runner from third to even the score at one and bring the Spartans to the plate for the bottom of the inning.
Tampa could not come up with the winning run in the ninth, forcing the game into extras.
With a tenth-inning combination of multiple 'Lope singles and one Spartan error, Grand Canyon added two more to its run total, putting the squad up 3-1 on Tampa.
Spartan offense could not manage to retaliate and the final score remained in favor of Grand Canyon.
Junior Ben O'Shea threw seven shutout innings for the Spartans. The 6'6" southpaw allowed only three hits and one walk, while striking out four GCU batters. Senior righty Evan Stobbs pitched 1.1 innings of relief, giving up three hits, one earned run, and striking out two.
Reliever Preston Packrall threw for 1.2 innings. Packrall walked two 'Lopes, allowed four hits and one earned run. The sophomore was tabbed with the loss, his first of the season.
The Grand Canyon pitching staff held Spartan batters to only four hits as GCU offense tallied 10 of their own. Schrader went 2-for-4 with a single and a homerun. Senior Damon Elder and sophomore Tyler Ding each notched one single apiece.
The Spartans and 'Lopes are scheduled to return to the field Saturday night at 7 p.m. for the second game of their three-game series. Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.com.
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