Spartans Cavalier After Sweep of Walsh

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The top ranked University of Tampa baseball team unloaded a 13-run barrage to complete the sweep of Walsh University by a 13-1 final score on Sunday afternoon.

The Spartans improve to 15-1 on the season while the Cavaliers plummet to 1-6 after the series.

UT totaled 19 hits as junior Orlando Rivera led the attack with a perfect 4-for-4 day while Stephen Dezzi mirrored with two hits in as many chances for Tampa. Centerfielder Connor Obrochta was perfect in his two at-bats, crossing the plate twice in the 13-run romp.

Designated hitter Tyler York and first baseman Sean O'Brien picked up two each of hits and RBI for the day to round out a strong Tampa attack that saw six players tally multiple hits.

Junior Brett Jones (2-0) picked up the win, tossing three complete innings of relief without allowing a baserunner. WU starter Matt Iosue was credited with the loss in his 3+ innings of work. The freshman allowed six runs and 10 hits on the outing.

Tampa jumped on the board early, as York roped a two-out single to left field, allowing a pair of runs to score for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Cavaliers shrunk the Spartan lead to one run, as Andrew Bonnette roped a RBI single to left center. Tampa would limit Walsh to a single run despite surrendering three hits on the inning and stranding a pair of baserunners.

The Spartans matched, scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the third to pad their 3-1 lead. Hot-hitting Dezzi started the attack with a single to leftfield. Two batters later, O'Brien smacked a RBI base-hit to left to score the run.

The Sarasota, Fla. native, Dezzi struck again in the fourth, picking up his eighth hit of the weekend while scoring a pair of runs to extend the lead to 6-1.

Tampa led off the home half of the sixth with three straight singles from Chris Pagliarulo, J.C. Coban and O'Brien. Tampa would capitalize and score two runs to inflate their lead to 10-1.

UT continued its rampage as another three batters came across to score in the seventh. The Cavaliers were unable to halt the Spartan momentum as they stand at a towering 13-1 score to end the contest.

The Spartans will begin Sunshine State Conference play with a road series against Saint Leo University, first game scheduled for a 6 p.m. start Friday. Live stats will be made available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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