UT Splits Doubleheader, Takes Series Over Eckerd to Conclude Regular Season

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 2 University of Tampa baseball team split a doubleheader at Eckerd College on Friday, taking two of three over the Tritons to wrap up regular-season play.

Final Score (Game One): No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans 7, Eckerd College Tritons 4

Final Score (Game Two): Eckerd College Tritons 6, No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans 4

Records: Tampa (40-10, 24-6 SSC), Eckerd (19-29, 12-18 SSC)

Location: Turley Complex|| St. Petersburg, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE):

• The Tritons crossed the first run of the day, scoring in the bottom of the first. | Bottom 1: 1-0 Eckerd
• After Eckerd tacked on a fourth-inning run to lead 2-0, the Spartans plated six in the fifth inning. John Malcom started the scoring with an RBI single. Dan Sullivan would later connect on a grand slam to break the game wide open. The sixth run of the frame came via an E.J. Cumbo base hit. | Top 5: 6-2 Tampa
• Eckerd cut the deficit to two runs with a pair of RBI doubles, coming in the sixth inning. | Bottom 6: 6-4 Tampa
• The Spartans added an insurance run with a seventh-inning RBI single off the bat of Sullivan. | Final: 7-4 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS (GAME ONE):

• Sullivan was 4-for-5 at the plate, highlighted by the go-ahead grand slam. He drove in five of UT's seven runs.
• Drew Ehrhard also reached base four times, collecting a pair of hits and two walks. He also scored two runs.
• Malcom had two hits and an RBI.
• Haden Erbe started, and moved into double figures with his 10th victory of the season to stand at 10-1. He went 5.0 innings, striking out five.
• Braydon Nelson threw 1.1 scoreless innings.
• Pitching the ninth and registering his fourth save of the season was Dalton Ross.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO):

• Similar to game one, Eckerd grabbed an early lead with a first-inning run. | Bottom 1: 1-0 Eckerd
• Tampa scored its first run of the game on a double steal, where Sullivan took second base while Jordan Lala recorded a steal of home. | Top 3: 1-1 Tie
• Eckerd's Mitch Donofrio smacked a two-run home run to put the Tritons back on top.| Bottom 3: 3-1 Eckerd
• Following a Sullivan single in the fifth, a throwing error allowed Lala to score. | Top 5: 3-2 Eckerd
• It was deja vu all over again as Donofrio belted another two-run round-tripper. EC would score another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly. | Bottom 5: 6-2 Eckerd 
• Sullivan scored the second run of the game for UT, crossing in the eighth on an Anthony Nunez RBI groundout. | Top 8: 6-3 Eckerd
• Giovany Lorenzo entered the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, resulting in a solo home run. | Final: 6-4 Eckerd

INSIDE THE STATS (GAME TWO):

• The Spartans were outhit 10-4 in the game.
• Lala had a walk and one hit, and also scored a team-high two runs.
• Lorenzo connected on the lone Spartan home run of the game.
• UT drew eight walks in the game, two from Nunez.
• Michael Paul started and went 3.0 innings. He was the pitcher of record and now stands at 8-3 on the season.
• Freshman and reigning Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week Alex Canney tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out five Tritons. The true freshman concludes the regular season riding an 11.0 consecutive scoreless innings streak.

UP NEXT: The Spartans now await word on the 2022 NCAA South Regional, which will be played at campus sites from May 19-22. The 2022 DII baseball selection show will air live on Sunday at 10 p.m. The show can be watched live on NCAA.com.