No. 1 Spartans Complete Sweep of Barry in SSC Opener
Senior center fielder Casey Scoggins had a monster day for Tampa.
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa took Game 2 of their SSC series against the No. 24 Barry University Buccaneers by a final score of 12-11 Saturday afternoon. The game, played at the University of Tampa baseball field, was the first of an SSC double-header and clinched the 3 game series for the Spartans.
David Heintz got the nod for the Spartans looking for his third victory on the season. Heinz went four innings, allowing two hits, two runs, and striking out two. McCormick relieved Heintz in the fifth innings, leaving him with the no decision.
UT struck in the second inning when Scoggins was given an opportunity with the bases loaded, roping a single up the middle. Zion Bell and Cody deNoyelles would come around to score, putting the Tampa lead at 3-0.
After a few defensive woes, the Spartans found themselves trailing the Buccaneers 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. With another lead off triple from Scoggins, Danny Lee roped an RBI single to right field that brought Scoggins in and tied the game at 4-4.
The Spartans found themselves trailing once again in the sixth inning but it didn't last long. Who else but Casey Scoggins, tied the game up with an RBI single that plated Bell, making it 5-5. Danny Lee would follow up Scoggins heroics with an RBI single of his own, giving the Tampa the lead once again at 6-5.
Tampa's offense exploded in the bottom of the seventh inning for five runs. Zion Bell, Michael Kleinman, and Casey Scoggins all had an RBI each. Danny Lee wrapped up his phenomenal day with a two-run bomb to right field that gave the Spartans an 11-5 lead.
After a defensive collapse in the bottom of the ninth, the Spartans were able to put it behind them and strike for the final time in the bottom of the tenth. Matt Piatt stole home on a passed ball and made it a walk-off victory for the Spartans, defeating Barry by a final score of 12-11.
Casey Scoggins and Danny Lee were the stars for the Spartans in Game 2. Scoggins went 5-5 with two triples, one double, and three runs batted in, finishing the game batting .531. Lee went 3-4 with three hits, four runs batted in, and a home run, finishing the game batting .407.
In Game 3 of the series, played Saturday evening at the University of Tampa baseball field, the Spartans defeated the Buccaneers 10-8. Tampa's victory completed the series sweep over Barry and their first SSC sweep of the season.
Brad Hencke got the start for the Spartans in the final game of the series and went 6.1 innings pitched. Hencke allowed six runs, struck out three, and left the game with an 8-6 lead. He was left with a no decision.
Tampa struck early once again, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. With a Kevin Santa RBI single, a Laz Rivera RBI double, and a passed ball, the Spartans found themselves with a 3-1 lead after one inning of play.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with the teams deadlocked at 5, Cody deNoyelles came through when he was most needed with an RBI single to center that brought Adrian Chacon in and gave Tampa a 6-5 lead.
With play staying consistent and quite even, Tampa broke it open a bit in the bottom of the sixth. Laz Rivera, Adrian Chacon, and Cody deNoyelles each had RBI singles that extended the Tampa lead to 8-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Spartans found themselves knotted at 8 with the Bucs but were able to load the bases. Vin Cosenzo came up huge for Tampa, roping a single to center field that brought Rivera and Chacon around to score, giving the Spartans a 10-8 lead.
Tampa will be back in action tomorrow afternoon where they square off against the Philadelphia Phillies in an exhibition game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM and will take place at Bright House Network Field in Clearwater, Florida.
Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instagram (tampaspartans). UT also offers a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.