Late-Inning Surge Lifts Spartans Over Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 4 University of Tampa baseball team came back from an 8-1 deficit to top Eckerd College by a score of 10-8 in a midweek non-conference meeting between the Sunshine State Conference opponents.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 4 Tampa 10, Eckerd 8
Records: Tampa Spartans (9-4), Eckerd Tritons (4-7)
Location: Turley Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa owns a 117-42 advantage in the all-time series. The Spartans have won 29 straight road games over the Tritons as Eckerd has not won at home over Tampa since 2003.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• UT struck first in its first at-bat as Drew Ehrhard reached via a double and would later score on a bases-loaded walk by catcher Josh Rulli. || Top 1 || 1-0 UT
• The lead would be short lived as the Tritons crossed four runs in their half of the first. The runs came off a pair of doubles and a two-run home run by Mitch Donofrio. || Bottom 1 || 4-1 EC
• Eckerd scored two in both the third and fourth innings. || Bottom 4 || 8-1 EC
• The Spartans battled back with a five-run sixth inning after four scoreless frames. After an RBI from Luke McDonald and Mikey Navarrete, head coach Joe Urso's call to pinch hit with John Pichman proved to be the right call as the senior hit a three-run home run. || Top 6 || 8-6 EC
• Luke Benoit added a solo home run in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter. || Top 8 || 8-7 EC
• Down to its final three outs, Tampa tied the game when Navarrete drove home Dan Sullivan. The Spartans would take their first lead since the first inning when shortstop Christian Flint singled home McDonald and Rulli. || Top 9 || 10-8 UT

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Ehrhard, Nick Derr and Rulli each collected multiple hits with two apiece.
• Rulli reached base five times, going 2-for-2 with three walks. He also scored a pair of runs.
• Pichman led the way with three RBI while Navarrete and Flint each drove in a pair.
• Nik Constantakos started for Tampa and received a no-decision after throwing 2.0 innings.
• Lefty Michael D'Emo starred in relief, earning his first win as a Spartan. He pitched 3.0 innings, allowing no runs while striking out three.
• Jacinto Arredondo picked up his second save of the season with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• Both pinch hitters connected on home runs for the Spartans, driving in four of the team's 10 runs.
• This was the first non-conference meeting between Tampa and Eckerd since 2009, when UT took a 3-2 win in St. Petersburg.
• The Spartans are now 3-1 in road games in 2020.
• UT has now scored 10-plus runs in three of its last four games.

UP NEXT:

The Spartans are home on Friday for an SSC series with Florida Tech at the UT Baseball Field. Friday's 6 p.m., game will be followed by a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.

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