No. 1 Tampa Scores Eleven Unanswered and Williams Strikes Out Eleven to Sweep Lynn

No. 1 Tampa Scores Eleven Unanswered and Williams Strikes Out Eleven to Sweep Lynn
February 22, 2025

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans swept Lynn in the opening SSC series.

Final (Game 1): #1 Tampa 9, Lynn 2

Final (Game 2): #1 Tampa 14, Lynn 8

Records: #1 Tampa (10-2, 3-0 SSC), Lynn (6-8, 0-3 SSC)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL. 

All-Time Series: This was the 116th meeting between these two programs. Tampa leads 89-27.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Spartans started the game, putting up a six spot in the first innings. Jordan Williams was hit with the first pitch he saw, then stole both second and third; Brayden Woodburn then walked to give the Spartans first and third to begin the game. After Lynn got their first out of the inning, a pitch hit Cole Russo to load the bases, and then the Spartans followed with lots of scoring. Mike Valdez would single to center to bring in J. Williams, Kevin Karstetter would hit a hard groundball that the Knights shortstop bobbled trying to turn two to bring in Woodburn, Edgardo Villegas singled to left to bring in Russo and Valdez, and with two outs Maddox King singled to center to bring in Karstette and Villegas. End 1 | 6-0 Tampa
  • With one out, J.D. Urso would double to the left-field corner. Russo followed with a single through the 5-6 hole to bring in Urso. End 2 | 7-0 Tampa
  • With two outs in the inning, King singled to start a two-out rally. J. Williams followed by lining a shot back up the middle for a single, and King would hustle around the bases, catch the Knights center fielder slacking, and come around to score. End 3 | 8-0 Tampa
  • Urso would lead the inning off with a walk and come around to score on a Valdez ground out. End 6 | 9-2 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

  • Valdez: 2-4, R, & 2 RBI's
  • King: 2-4, R, 2 RBI's, & SB
  • Russo: 1-1, 2 BB, R, & RBI
  • Urso: 1-4, BB, & 2 R's
  • J. Williams: 1-3, BB, R, RBI, & 4 SB's
  • Villegas: 1-3, R, & 2 RBI's
  • Karstetter: 1-3, R, & RBI

ON THE MOUND:

  • C.J. Williams started on the mound. He threw 7 innings while striking out 11 and giving up 2 runs. Williams picked up his second win and is now 2-1 in the season.
  • Robert Satin came in relief for Williams. He threw 2 scoreless while striking out 4.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • After going down 2-0, the Spartans responded in the first with a three spot. J. Williams led off the game with a walk and then stole second. Villegas doubled to the right-field corner to bring home J. Williams. Urso followed with a triple off the right-center-field wall to bring home Villegas. Later in the inning, Jhoander Irigoyen would bring Urso with a sacrifice fly. End 1 | 3-2 Tampa
  • Spartans cut into Lynn's lead in the third. The Spartans loaded the bases up to start the inning. Russo led off with a single, Irigoyen doubled to left field, and Lenny Ashby walked. Valdez would hit a high chopper to third that Lynn's third baseman only play was to step on third. Russo would come into score on the play. Later in the inning, Ashby would come into score on a wild pitch. End 3 | 8-5 Lynn
  • Spartans tied the score up in the fourth. Villegas led off the inning with a double. Urso followed with a double to right-center to bring home Villegas. Russo then walked. Urso stole third and then came into score on an Irigoyen groundout. Later in the inning, Russo would come into score on a Valdez line drive back to the Lynn pitcher that would deflect off the pitcher's leg and roll into foul play. End 4 | 8-8 Tie
  • The Spartans would take the lead in the fifth. Nico Saladino led the inning off with a single. J. Williams laid down a perfectly executed bunt single. Villegas doubled to left center to bring Saladino home. J. Williams would come around to score on a Russo groundout. Villegas would score on a wild pitch. End 5 | 11-8 Tampa
  • After Ashby led the inning off with a walk, King would come into pinch run for him. King would come around to score on a Karstetter groundout. End 6 | 12-8 Tampa
  • J. Williams's speed kept the Lynn defense on their toes all night. This time, he beat out a ground ball to Lynn's shortstop. He would then come around to score on a Russo groundball to the first baseman. End 7 | 13-8 Tampa
  •  After Valdez reached first on an error by the Lynn Shortstop, Woodburn would pinch run for him. Woodburn would then come around to score later in the inning. End 8 | 14-8 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

  • Villegas: 4-5, BB, 3 R's, 2 RBI's, & SB
  • Urso: 2-4, BB, 2 R's, 2 RBI's, SB
  • Russo: 2-4, BB, 2 R's, & RBI
  • J. Williams: 2-5, BB, 3 R's, RBI, 2 SB's
  • Saladino: 1-2, 2 BB's, & R
  • Valdez: 1-4, BB, & 2 RBI's
  • Irigoyen: 1-4 & 2 RBI's
  • Karstetter: 1-5, RBI, & SB

ON THE MOUND:

  • Jake Stipp started on the mound. He threw 2 innings while striking out 2 and giving up 7 runs.
  • Jacob Fletcher came in relief for Stipp. He threw 4 innings while striking out 1 and giving up 1 run. Fletcher picked up the win in his outing and improved his record on the season to 2-0.
  • Ethan Brown came in relief for Fletcher. He threw a scoreless 7th inning.
  • Michael Alfonso came in relief for Brown. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 2.

ON THE DAY:

  • Villegas: 5-8 at the plate
  • J. Williams: 6 stolen bases
  • CJ Williams: 11 Strike outs

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host Ashland for a Friday night matchup on February 28th at 5:00 PM.