Spartans Bow Out from NCAA Tournament

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa squared off against the University of West Georgia in the loser's bracket of the 2016 NCAA South Regional. The Wolves jumped out to an early three-run lead and were able to hold on late, as they eliminated the Spartans with a final score of 4-3. West Georgia advances in the tournament and now boast a 41-15 record. Tampa is eliminated from the NCAA South Regional and conclude its season with a 41-10 record.

Kevin Martin earned the start for UT as the senior lefty threw a solid 7.1 innings. He would allow just two earned runs and struck out three batters on the day. Senior Michael Calkins would throw the final 0.2 innings, retiring both batters he faced.

UWG struck first as they put up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. They would score their first run as they capitalized on a throwing error by UT. After the throwing error, Dalton Rogers would hit a sacrifice fly to plate the second run of the game.

West Georgia would add another run in the bottom of the third inning, as they scored on a sacrifice fly to left field to push the lead to 3-0.

The Spartans were able to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning as Laz Rivera put them on the board when he hit a moonshot to left field for a solo homer. The Wolves would answer back in the bottom half of the inning as Ben Utley homered to left field.

In the sixth inning, Tampa would add another run to cut down the deficit to 4-2.  Vin Cosenzo hit a chopper just out in front of home plate, and Danny Lee was able to avoid the tag at the plate to score the run.

In the eighth inning, the deficit would be cut down to just one run after Cody deNoyelles would drive a sac fly to center field to bring in Adrian Chacon. That would be the final run of the contest as the Spartans were unable to tie the game as they had bases loaded in the top of the eight.

Rivera and Cosenzo led the way offensively for the Spartans as they each recorded two hits on the day.

Tampa ends the 2016 season with a 41-10 record and finished as the Sunshine State Conference Champions.

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