Saladino Plays Hero in the Ninth
April 21, 2023
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Spartans rally with two outs in the ninth in dramatic fashion.
Final Score: No. 3 University of Tampa Spartans (8), Barry University Bucs (6)
Records: Tampa (31-7, 20-2 SSC), Barry (27-14, 11-11 SSC)
Location: Feinbloom Field || Miami Shores, Fla.
All-Time Series: The Spartans win their 84th game against the Bucs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Noriega singled to left and Forchic scored from second with two outs in the bottom of the first | 1-0 Barry.
- Nico Saladino hit a sacrifice fly to left and scored Jamarcus Lyons from third in the second | 1-1 Tied.
- Barry threatened in the bottom of the third with a couple men on base with only one out, but Michael Paul left them stranded to keep it all square.
- Saladino collected his second RBI of the ball game with a single down the right field line and scored Danny Gutcher from second base. The bases were loaded with two outs for J.D. Urso later in the inning, but the Spartans couldn't cash in | 2-1 Tampa.
- In the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs, Noriega singled to right and scored two. The Bucs left two men in scoring position to end the innning | 3-2 Barry.
- The Spartans had a chance to score with the bases loaded in the sixth with one out, but an inning ending double play left the runners stranded.
- Jose Cadenas hit a sacrifice fly to center, that scored Gutcher from third and advanced Saladino to third. The Spartans took the lead in the next at bat with a Jordan Lala single to center | 4-3 Tampa.
- Barry tack on three runs in the eighth, including back-to-back home runs to regain the lead | 6-4 Barry.
- With two outs in the ninth, Gutcher singled through the right side and scored Urso from second to cut it to one. Saladino gives the Spartans the lead with one swing of the bat with a home run to center | FINAL: 8-6 Tampa.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Saladino went 3-3, 5 RBI, 2 runs, and 2 XBH.
- Gutcher went 4-5, 3 runs, and 1 RBI
- Jack Brodsky gets win number 4 on the campaign.
UP NEXT: The series finale doubleheader at Feinbloom field at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday April 21.