Tampa Fights Back to Take First SSC Series
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The No. 4 University of Tampa baseball team bounced back from its Friday night loss to take two of three games against Sunshine State Conference opponent and No. 19 Florida Tech.
Tampa won the first game 7-6 and the second 2-0. The Spartans improve to 15-3 on the season and 2-1 in league play. The Panthers are now 16-6 and 6-3 in conference.
In the first game, Tampa battled back after being behind by a 5-1 deficit, tying the game in the top of the seventh with a four-run inning.
Connor Obrochta had a standout day at the plate, hitting 3-for-5 on the day. In the 9th, after a leadoff walk, Tyler Ding stole second to put himself into scoring position. Ding eventually scored off a Zach Alvord bunt, putting the Spartans ahead by one.
Tampa tacked on an extra run later in the inning when Adam Pendleton knocked a base hit down the third base line, scoring B.J. Zimmerman.
Pitching held strong for Tampa with Eric Luksis getting the start, pitching 6.0 complete innings, allowing seven hits and striking out two. Mike Adams entered in relief and earned the win, with three innings of work, two strikeouts and giving up four hits.
Pendleton's RBI base hit would turn out to be the difference after Florida Tech made one last effort in the bottom of the ninth, scoring one run just before Adams was able to get Tyler Doughty of Florida Tech to fly out to center to end the game. He improves to 2-0 on the season.
In game two of the doubleheader, Tampa's starting pitcher, Matt Abramson pitched a beauty. Abramson only allowed two hits through 5.2 innings of work and struck out five Panther hitters.
The only runs of the game came in the third inning, when Drew Doty grounded out to second base, scoring Jacob Tillotson, making it 1-0. The next batter, Ding, scorched a line drive down the right field line, scoring Obrochta. Ding led the team, hitting 3-for-4 in the contest.
Caleb Kellogg replaced Abramson in the sixth inning to close the door on the Panthers, only allowing one hit and earning himself the save. Kellogg collects his second save of the season and Abramson improves to 2-0 for the year.
Tampa is back to work on Monday in Winter Haven, Fla., where they will take on Wayne State University (Mich.) at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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