Spartans Upend Defending National Champs

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - Facing the NCAA defending national champions, the No. 3 University of Tampa baseball team took a 7-4 victory over West Chester University Tuesday night. The Spartans improve to 20-4 on the season while the Golden Rams sit at 7-8-1 on their 2013 campaign.

Junior Connor Obrochta hit 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and a two RBI home run while senior Adam Pendleton tallied three hits and two RBI to his credit. Corner infielder Jake Schrader hit at a .500 clip on the game, picking up a pair of hits and a run in the contest.

Neither team wasted any time getting on the scoreboard, as each squad plated a run in their first half inning. Tampa centerfielder Obrochta hustled home from second because of a base-hit from Schrader. The senior continued to pad his team leading 23 RBI with the score.

Golden Rams shortstop Rob Spekhardt clubbed his first collegiate home run in the second inning, good for two RBI and the lead at 3-1. They would not hold the lead for long, as Obrochta mirrored with a two-run shot of his own in the home half of the second, tying the score at 3-3.

UT catcher Pendleton gave the Spartans their first lead of the ballgame as the senior backstop laced a RBI base-hit to left field. Shortstop Jacob Tillotson recorded a sacrifice fly to pad the Spartan lead at 5-3.

First baseman Sean O'Brien added an insurance run in the fourth inning, bringing Michael Danner around to score with a one out single up the middle. A half inning later, West Chester second baseman Justin Lamborn blasted a solo shot to left center. Despite the long-ball Tampa remained ahead 6-4 heading into the fifth frame.

Pendleton struck again in the eighth inning against the defending national champions, plating Quinn Pippin with a two-bagger deep to centerfield. Spartan lefty Mike Adams would come in to close out the top of the ninth, sending a pair of batters down on strikes.. The preserving the 7-4 win, the senior picked up his third save of the season.

Starter David Heintz (4-0) picked up his fourth win of the season with a five inning performance. Golden Rams starter Alec Schwartz was credited with the loss in his first start of the season.

The Spartans welcome Franklin Pierce University Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the UT Baseball Field. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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