Spartans Split Doubleheader to take Series over Nova

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans split their doubleheader against Nova Southeastern today.

Game One Final: Nova Southeastern Sharks 6, #1 Tampa Spartans 5

Game Two Final: #1 Tampa Spartans 8, Nova Southeastern Sharks 2

Records: Tampa (29-3, 10-2 SSC), Nova Southeastern (16-11, 7-5 SSC)

Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Spartans improve to 58-23 over the Sharks.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Stephen Klein doubled to right center to bring home Maddox King. Top 5 | 3-1 Nova
• E.J. Cumbo doubled down the left field line to bring home King. Jake Griffith singled up the middle to bring home Cumbo. Top 6 | 3-3 Tie
• Macallister Jorgensen laid down a perfectly executed bunt to stretch it out to a single. On the play, Mike Valdez scored on a throwing error from the third basemen. Nico Saladino flew out to the right field to bring home Anthony Nunez. Top 7 | 5-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Cumbo: 2-5, R, & RBI.
• King: 2-4 & 2 R's.

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He pitched 5 innings, giving up runs while striking out 3.
• Eli Thurmond relieved Gonzalez. He threw 3.1 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 5.
• Andrew Carson relieved Thurmond. His first batter, he gave up a 2-run walk-off home run, resulting in his first loss of the season.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Klein doubled to right center to bring home Maddox King. Top 3 | 1-0 Tampa
• On the first pitch of the inning, Jorgensen launches his third home run to left field. Top 4 | 2-1 Tampa
• Jorgensen followed in his next at-bat, singling to left field to bring home Valdez. Top 5 | 3-1 Tampa
• Cumbo singled to left center to bring home Santiago Garavito. Griffith doubled down the right field line to bring home Saladino and Jorgensen. Klein flew out to center field, but Cumbo scored on the play. Valdez singled to bring Griffith home. Top 8 | 8-1 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Jorgensen: 3-4, BB, 2 RBI's, & 2 R's.
• Valdez: 2-5, RBI, & R.
• Nunez: 2-4 & BB.

ON THE MOUND:

• Jake Stipp picked up his second win on the season. He pitched 6 strong innings, only giving up 1 run while striking out 4.
• Tobin Moran relieved Stipp. He picked up his first save on the season, pitching 3 innings while giving up 1 run and striking out 1.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will head to Winter Park next weekend as they take on Rollins for a 3-game series starting Friday, April 5^th at 3:00 pm.