Defensive Blunders Prove Costly for Top-Ranked Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans battled the Seton Hill Griffins and had its seven-game winning streak snapped in a five-error game for UT.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Seton Hill Griffins 11, No. 1 Tampa Spartans 8

Records: Tampa (16-5), Seton Hill (7-4)

Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series with a 6-1 record over the Griffins.

Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

How it happened

• The Griffins wasted no time as they scored a run in the top of the first inning. Danny Lee started the bottom of the first off with a single up the middle. Kevin Santa got on base after walking on a full count. J.D. Osborne reached on a throwing error and advanced to second base, scoring Lee. Laz Rivera singled to left field, advancing Osborne and scoring Santa. Osborne scored after a passed ball, making the score 3-1. Vin Cosenzo singled to right field and scored L. Rivera, 4-1. 
•  The top of the second inning brought in two runs for the Griffins, bringing the Griffins within one run of the Spartans. They would score one run in the top of the third to tie the game with the Spartans. 
• The top of the fourth gave the Griffins the lead as they score five runs to make the score 9-4. 
• In the top of the fifth and sixth, Seton Hill scored a run increasing their lead to 11-4.  
• Darren Miller came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth and hit a single to the shortstop, the first hit the Spartans had since the third inning. Cosenzo reached on a fielding error and advanced Miller to third base. Miller scored after Richie Rivera singled to left field. Lee singled to third base and scored Cosenzo making the score 11-6. Then Seton Hill threw a wild pitch and Andrew DiLacqua scored, the Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to close in on the Griffins lead, 11-7.
• Tampa would add a ninth inning run and strand another in the final frame.

Inside the Stats

• Lee, Miller and Cosenzo turned in a team-leading three hits. Lee also added a run and RBI.
• L. Rivera also collected a pair of hits.
• Nick Nolan started for the Spartans, throwing 3.0 innings while allowing six hits. Just two of his six runs were earned as he also had five strikeouts.
• Chris McCormick and Kyle Hanlon each pitched in relief. In his Spartan debut, Hanlon threw 4.0 innings, giving up just three hits and an unearned run. He also struck out six Griffins.

Beyond the Box

• This marks the first game of the season with the Spartans ranked No. 1. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced its new top-30 prior to Monday's game. The Spartans were previously No. 2.
• L. Rivera played his first game since suffering an injury on March 4 at Flagler.
• The Spartans committed a season-high five errors in the defeat.
• The loss marks the first since March 3 at Flagler.
• UT's previous winning streak was at seven games.

UP NEXT:

Tampa will return to action on Friday at 6 pm as it travels to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Nova Southeastern Sharks for a weekend series. Fans can watch through TampaSpartans.tv.

TAMPA SPARTANS MOBILE APP:

A free app is also available for free download through Apple and Google Play stores. Please search for Tampa Spartans Front Row. 

RECEIVE TEXT AND EMAIL ALERTS:

UT also offers free messaging service for text and/or email, which sends alerts and press releases for Spartan teams. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.