Spartans Hit Parade Crushes West Florida 17-7

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 3 seed University of Tampa Spartans baseball team faced off against the NCAA South Regional's No. 1 seeded squad in the University of West Florida. Tampa crushed the Argonauts to the tune of a 17-7 score. Slugger E.J. Cumbo wacked two homeruns and a double for a 3-for-5 day at the plate with a team-leading five RBI. The Spartans collected 18 hits in the game with six batters netting multi-RBI performances.

Final: No. 3 Tampa Spartans 17, No. 1 West Florida 7
Records: Tampa (19-4), West Florida (36-10)
Location: Jim Spooner Field | Pensacola, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Argos put three runs up in the games first four innings. | 3-0 West Florida
• The Spartans answered in the top of the fifth, tacking on four runs to take the lead. Sam Freitas got things started with a single up the middle, scoring Luke Glancy; E.J. Cumbo smashed a three-run shot with Freitas and Josh Rulli on base to give Tampa a lead they would not relinquish. | 4-3 Tampa
• Tampa erupted in the top of the sixth frame, rallying for an additional five runs. J.D Urso scored Dan Sullivan with a sac-fly; Rulli singled through left field bringing home Glancy; Freitas logged his second hit of the game, scoring Rulli; Cumbo's bat was good for another run with an RBI double to right center, scoring Christian Flint; Drew Ehrhard got on the board with a single to left field for two RBI: Cumbo and Freitas. | 10-3 Tampa
• Flint's single to center field scored Sullivan in the top of the seventh. | 11-3 Tampa
• The Spartans added on five more runs in the top of the eighth. Cumbo blasted a solo shot to right center in the top of the eighth (12-3); Urso singled to left field, scoring Ehrhard (13-3); Rulli earned a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Jamarcus Lyons (14-3); Flint slashed another single to right field, scoring Glancy and Urso (16-3); Freitas' single sent Rulli home (17-3). | Tampa 17-3
• The Argonauts scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth. | Final: 17-7 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tampa's leading slugger, E.J Cumbo, continued his strong South Regional performance with a 3-for-5 day at the dish with two homeruns, a double, five RBI, and no strikeouts.
• Sam Freitas and Luke Glancy each had three RBI. Freitas hit 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Glancy went 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
• Drew Ehrhard, Josh Rulli, and J.D. Urso each had two RBI. Ehrhard hit 3-for-4 with a walk, one run scored, and no strikeouts. Rulli also hit 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored.
• UT batters scored 17 runs on 18 hits.
• Alex Passarella earned his first win of the year, tossing three innings with two strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

UP NEXT: The Spartans play the winner of today's Lee – West Florida matchup tomorrow, Sunday May 30, at 1:00 p.m.

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