Tampa Splits Doubleheader at Nova Southeastern to Take Series
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tampa
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
|
Nova Southeastern
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tampa
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 1 |
|
Nova Southeastern
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | X | 11 | 7 | 1 |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The No. 3 University of Tampa (36-10, 16-5 SSC) baseball team took the first of two against Nova Southeastern University (25-18, 6-12 SSC) by a 3-1 score and fell 11-6 in the final game of the Sunshine State Conference series.
The top team in the South Region scored a run in the first and pulled ahead in the fifth with a pair of runs to gain momentum in the first game. Michael Danner would put UT on top with a home run to start off the scoring, though Nova would even the count with a run in the second. Tampa would take a 3-1 lead in the fifth behind RBI singles from Jacob Tillotson and Tyler Ding.
Ben Brown (5-0) got the start and went 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and one run. The senior also had three strikeouts while walking none. Mike Adams earned his second save in as many days and sixth on the year with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Adams allowed just one hit and struck out four Sharks.
Danner finished the first game with a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the plate, scoring and driving in a run. He also reached a fourth time via a walk.
In game two, the Spartans scored one in the first and two in the third to take a 3-0 lead before the Sharks would cut the UT lead to 3-2 with a pair in the third. Nova would cross four in the fifth and five in the sixth to take a commanding 11-6 lead as a three-run sixth for Tampa was not enough.
Danner, Ding, Tillotson and Jake Schrader would each register two hits in game two, with Connor Obrochta scoring a pair of runs. Despite outhitting Nova 12-7, UT fell victim to a big game from Nova's Michael Melendez. He finished with a pair of grand slams in back-to-back innings.
Eric Luksis started for the Spartans and received a no decision after going 4.1 innings. The senior lefty allowed three hits and four runs, also striking out four. Caleb Kellogg and Preston Packrall both pitched in relief, with Packrall (1-2) getting the loss.
The Spartans will conclude the regular season with a three-game series against Lynn, beginning Friday at 6 p.m., at the UT Baseball Field. A 1 p.m., Saturday doubleheader will also be Senior Day between games.
Fans may follow live stats or watch the game through TampaSpartans.tv.
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