Albany State No Match for Top-Ranked Tampa
Matt Piatt was 5-6 on the day with 5 RBI and four runs scored.
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1-ranked University of Tampa (15-1) baseball team swept Albany State University (1-20) on Saturday to conclude a three-game sweep over the Golden Rams and run its win streak to seven games.
The Spartan bats showed up once again, defeating the Golden Rams by scores of 11-1 and 16-2. Between three games versus ASU and one against Seton, Hill, the Spartans outscored their opponents 62-11 during the three-day span.
Tampa jumped out to an early lead in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Kevin Santa and Matt Piatt each singled home a run, while the other scored on a fielders choice. The inning got its start when red-hot centerfielder Casey Scoggins led off the UT frame with a triple.
The Spartans would put the game out of reach with a four-run eighth inning courtesy of a two-run double by Laz Rivera and a two-run home run by Matt Piatt.
Scoggins led UT, going 4-4 with three runs and one walk. The senior added a double and triple as he came up a home run shy of the cycle. Rivera was 3-4 with three runs and three RBI to go with a walk as well. Piatt added four hits, three RBI and a run scored.
Chris McCormick made his first start of the season and threw 5.0 innings to improve to 3.0 on the season. McCormick allowed just two hits and no earned runs while striking out three Golden Rams. Connor Andrews added 3.0 innings of nearly perfect relief as he gave up just one hit with five striekouts. Kasey Radke came in to finish the game with a perfect 9th, notching one strikeout.
In game two, a 12-run fifth inning was enough to give UT another blowout victory. UT would finish the frame with 10 hits, including a three-run home run by Zion Bell.
Piatt and Adrian Chacon would also add big flys in the game as Chacon was 3-4 with three RBI and two runs.
Brad Hencke improved to 2-1 on the season as the senior left went 5.0 innings, giving up two runs while striking out four. Christopher Williams threw 2.0 innings of relief, striking out two.
The Spartans return to the field on Tuesday at home against Grand Valley State University at 6 p.m. UT will provide live stats and video through TampaSpartans.com. Fans may also download the free Tampa Spartans app through the Apple or Android store.
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