Spartans Hit Way to Sweep of Eckerd
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 5 University of Tampa (33-9, 14-4 SSC) baseball team had no problems in a doubleheader sweep over Sunshine State Conference visitor Eckerd College (14-27, 2-19 SSC).
The first game included a record-setting seventh inning for the Spartans. A 17-run outburst tied a school record for the most runs in an inning, matching an inning from the 2010 season against the Tritons.
UT also set a NCAA record while being hit by eight pitches in the seventh inning. The record is the most across all NCAA divisions as the previous record was six in Division II and five in Division I and III. Overall, Tampa was hit by 13 combined pitches in the two games, including 10 in game one.
Eckerd held a brief lead in game one with a second-inning score. The Spartans would respond with one in the bottom of the second and four in the third as UT would score in each ensuing inning but the eighth.
Connor Obrochta and Michael Danner each had three hits, with Obrochta driving in a team-high four runs. Danner, Chris Pagliarulo and Zach Gawrych each drove in three runs. Sean O'Brien also drove in two runs and scored three while Jake Schrader and Gawrych both scored three times.
Ben Brown started for the Spartans and earned the victory to improve to 3-0 on the year. The senior threw 5.0 innings and allowed two runs while striking out three. Eric Luksis pitched the final 4.0 innings to earn his first save of the season.
Mike Adams started his first game of the season and threw a gem in the second game. The lefty pitched 6.0 scoreless innings while giving up just three hits. Adams walked none and struck out seven as he moved to 5-0 on the season. Caleb Kellogg preserved the second shutout of the weekend with a perfect seventh.
O'Brien added a pair of hits as Jake Schrader drove in two runs. After scoring the game's first run in the third inning, UT tacked on four in the fifth to put the game out of reach.
Tampa is back on the field on Tuesday when it welcomes Southeastern (Fla.) University to the UT Baseball Field at 6 p.m. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.com.
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