Spartans Come Back and Give Sharks First Loss of the Year

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Spartans rolled into game one, and gave the Sharks their first loss of the 2022 campaign.

Final Score: No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans (9), No. 12 Nova Southeastern University (3)

Records: Tampa (18-2, 4-0 SSC), Nova Southeastern (17-1, 3-1 SSC)

Location: NSU Baseball Complex || Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

All-Time Series: The Spartans extend their commanding lead in the all-time series with 49 wins in 70 games between the two programs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

In the bottom of the third, Haden Erbe let up a home run blast to center to Adam Frank | 1-0 Nova. A sacrifice fly from Jamarcus Lyons tied it up for the Spartans in the top of the fifth | 1-1 tied. The Sharks regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own | 3-1 Nova. E.J. Cumbo sent his fifth of the year over the fence, along with three runs for the Spartans to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Jose Cadenas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and that brought in J.D. Urso | 5-3 Tampa. Haden Erbe's day was done after the fifth, RHP Braydon Nelson relieved him in the bottom of the sixth to make his seventh appearance on the year. After a couple scoreless innings the Spartans tacked on a few insurance runs in the top of the ninth | 9-3 Tampa. Nelson shows the Sharks the door in the bottom of the ninth | Final: 9-3 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Cumbo grabbed four RBI with two hits.
• Cadenas collected three RBI.
• Dan Sullivan had two runs along with two hits.
• Nelson earned save, going four innings.

UP NEXT: The Spartans finish up the series with the Sharks tomorrow with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.