World Series Ticket Punched: Tampa Sweeps Embry-RIddle in Saturday Super Regionals

TAMPA, Fla. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans punch their ticket to the World Series following a Saturday Super Regional sweep over Embry-Riddle.

Final - Game 1: #1 Tampa Spartans 15, #3 Embry-Riddle Eagles 1

Final – Game 2: #1 Tampa Spartans 13, #3 Embry-Riddle Eagles 3

Records: Tampa (48-8), Embry-Riddle (36-22)

Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: The Spartans have a 19-12 record over the Eagles.

Game 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• E.J. Cumbo would get the afternoon started with a home run. Top 3 | 1-0 Tampa
• With the bases loaded, two outs, and two strikes, J.P. Gates received a hanging breaking ball that he did not miss, homering to right center for a grand slam. Top 5 | 5-0 Tampa
• After Embry-Riddle got one back, the Spartan's offense put up a six spot, all with two outs. After a Cumbo double to center field, Stephen Klein singled to left center to bring home Cumbo. Gates then singled, followed by a Santiago Garavito single, then a Mike Valdez single to bring home Klein and Gates, and finally capped off with an opposite-field 3-run shot to right field off of the bat of Brayden Woodburn. Top 7 | 11-1 Tampa
• Despite two outs and no one on base for the Spartans, Tampa had a rally about to brew. Anthony Nunez walked, Klein walked, Gates singled to bring in Nunez, and Danny Gutcher put the icing on top with a 3-run home run to left field. Top 8 | 15-1 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Gates: 4-5, 5 RBI's, 3 R's.
• Cumbo: 3-5, RBI, & 3 R's.
• Klein: 2-3, 2 BB, RBI, & 3 R's.
• Valdez: 2-4 & 2 RBI's.

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound and improved his record to 15-0, tying the school record for most wins in a single season. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 1 run while striking out 3.
• Gates came in relief for Gonzalez. He pitched 1.1 scoreless innings while striking out 1.
• Jeremy Goins came in relief for Gates. He pitched 2 scoreless innings while striking out 3.

Game 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Despite giving up 3 runs in the top of the first, the Spartans hit the gas pedal immediately. Cumbo led off the Spartans in the bottom of the half with a solo shot to left field. Later in the inning, Nunez would walk and come around to score on a Sac fly by Valdez, and Gates would single and come around to score on a Woodburn single. Bot 1 | 3-3 Tie
• The Spartans would use the long ball. Nunez would hit a solo shot to left field, and after a Gates walk, Garavito would smash a 2-run shot over the center field wall. Bot 2 | 6-3 Tampa
• Woodburn would lead off the inning with a double down the left-field line. Nico Saladino followed with a bunt single to set up first and third for the Spartans with no outs. Despite Macallister Jorgensen grounding into a double play, Woodburn would come into score on the play. Bot 3 | 7-3 Tampa
• Nunez would lead off the inning with a walk, and Klein would single. Gates drove in Nunez, singling back up the middle, and then Klein would come into score on a Valdez fielder choice. Bot 6 | 9-3 Tampa
• After singling to center field, Saladino would come around to score on a Cumbo ground out. Bot 7 | 10-3 Tampa
• Saladino would come up to the plate in the following inning and deliver again. He would drive a 3-run bomb to right field to give the Spartans a double-digit lead. Bot 8 | 13-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Saladino: 4-4, BB, 3 RBI's, & 2 R's.
• Gates: 4-4, BB, RBI, & 3 R's.
• Cumbo: 3-6, 2 RBI's, & R.
• Woodburn: 2-5, RBI, & R.
• Jorgensen: 2-5

ON THE MOUND:

• Jake Stipp started on the mound and improved his record to 6-1. He pitched 5 innings, giving up 3 runs while striking out 4.
• Nunez came in relief for Stipp. He pitched 1 scoreless inning while striking out 2.
• Andrew Carson came in relief for Nunez. He pitched 3 scoreless innings while striking out 5.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will travel to Cary, North Carolina, to try to win its ninth National Championship in program history. The final 8 teams will be reseed before their first matchups on June 1^st.