Spartans Beat Lions in Their Own Den
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The No. 2 ranked University of Tampa Spartans baseball team were on the road for evening action with the Saint Leo University Lions and came away victorious. Tampa moves to 13-2 on the year with the win, including 12-1 in conference play.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: #2 Tampa Spartans 8, Saint Leo Lions 5
Records: Tampa 13-2 (12-1 SSC), Saint Leo 6-13 (5-10 SSC)
Location: Thomas B. Southard Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 132-44.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Saint Leo started off strong, putting up three runs in the early going and holding Tampa scoreless through four innings. | 3-0 Saint Leo
- Spartan bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning, with three runs scored. Mikey Navarrete got things started with a double down the left-field line, scoring Luke McDonald. J.D. Urso added a run of his own, reaching home plate on a Lions wild pitch. The last run of the inning by Tampa was scored by Mikey Navarrete from an E.J. Cumbo single. | 3-3 Tied
- Saint Leo stole home in the bottom of the fifth to answer. | 4-3 Saint Leo
- Tampa's offense hummed once more in the top of the seventh with a five-run inning. Luke Glancy reached first on a fielding error, which brought home Jamarcus Lyons and Jose Cadenas. The Spartans again added another unearned run when John Malcom scored with the help of a McDonald single. | 6-4 Tampa
- J.D. Urso doubled down the left-field line for two RBI, scoring McDonald and Glancy. | 8-4 Tampa
- Saint Leo scored once in the bottom of the eighth. | 8-5 Tampa
INSIDE THE STATS:
- J.D. Urso had a great day at the dish, going 3-for-3 and two RBI to lead Tampa.
- Luke McDonald also had a multiple-hit day, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Michael Paul has not lost a start this season, improving to a perfect 6-0.
- Jordan Leasure tossed two innings in relief and struck out two to earn his third save of the year.
UP NEXT: Tampa is back home Saturday for a doubleheader with Saint Leo to finish their second season series of the year. Game one begins at 1:00 p.m. and game two kicks off at 4:00 p.m.
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