Top-15 Matchup in Lakeland for No. 1 Tampa This Weekend

Top-15 Matchup in Lakeland for No. 1 Tampa This Weekend
March 26, 2025

WEEK 9

LAKELAND, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa baseball team will take on a Top-15 nationally ranked matchup, weekend series, against SSC rival Florida Southern before hosting a mid-week matchup with Valdosta State.

Matchup:

#1 Tampa @ Florida Southern

#1 Tampa vs. Valdosta State

Location:

Henley Field | Lakeland, FL.

University of Tampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.

Times:

Friday, March 28th, 6:00 P.M. @ Florida Southern

Saturday, March 29th, 1:00 P.M. & 4:00 P.M. (Doubleheader) @ Florida Southern

Tuesday, April 1st, 5:00 P.M. vs. Valdosta State

Tampa (24-4)

  • The Spartans hosted SSC opponents  Embry-Riddle (Fla.) and Saint Leo this past week. Tampa swept the Eagles in a weekend series and beat the Lions in a mid-week matchup. They dominated both offensively and on the mound in the four conference games. They outscored their opponents 33-8 in the four games. In game one against Embry-Riddle, the Spartans starting pitcher C.J. Williams tossed eight innings of one-run baseball, and catcher Jhoander Irigoyen was 4-5 with five runs batted in on the night at the plate, including two doubles. In game two against the Eagles, Skylar Gonzalez pitched six innings, giving up one run. Despite Gonzalez's efficient outing, the Spartans found themselves down one heading into the ninth before Brayden Woodburn launched a solo shot to tie the game up. J.D. Urso walked it off for the Spartans in the bottom of the tenth with a single. In game three, Jake Stipp picked up his fifth win of the season, improving to 5-0 on the season, tossing seven scoreless in route to a Spartans 10-0 run-rule victory. Jordan Williams, Nico Saladino, Woodburn, and Kevin Karstetter all had multi-hit games, and Santiago Garavito hit his first moonshot of the year. In the mid-week matchup against St. Leo, the Spartans bullpen, Eli Thurmond, Ethan Brown, Jacob Fletcher, and Logan Wash, combined for seven scoreless innings while striking out 12. Jake Griffith hit his first long ball of the season, and J. Williams continues to inch closer to Eddie Cowans's single-season Tampa stolen base record (52), stealing four bags on the night. The No. 1 Spartans look to continue their dominance on the mound and at the dish as they take on No. 13 Florida Southern for a three-game series and Valdosta State during a mid-week matchup.

Florida Southern (22-6)

  • The Mocs are 22-6 on the season and 7-2 in Sunshine State Conference play. They started their season 15-2, including taking two of three from then-ranked No. 14 West Florida, before sweeping Georgia Southwestern State University, taking a mid-week matchup against Eckerd,  sweeping USC Beaufort, taking two of three from Florida Tech, sweeping Barry, and taking another mid-week matchup this time against Roosevelt University. The Mocs then dropped a series to No. 25 Carson-Newman before taking two of three from Eckerd, a mid-week matchup from St. Leo, and three of four from Wayne State. The No. 13 Mocs look to make a statement as they host No. 1 Tampa for a three-game series.

Valdosta State (17-14)

  • The Blazers are 17-14 and 11-6 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State opened up the season dropping two of three to SSC opponent Rollins. They then were swept by Embry-Riddle and lost a mid-week matchup to Georgia Southwestern. The Blazers were able to finally split two games with Union before dropping a game to Columbus State. Valdosta State bounced back, sweeping Trevecca Nazarene, dropping a mid-week matchup with St. Leo before sweeping Alabama-Hunstville and Nova Southeastern. The Blazers then took two of three to West Alabama and a mid-week matchup against Georgia College. They then lost two of three to No. 12 Delta State and Montevallo despite taking mid-week matchups against Columbus State and Georgia College. The Blazers will take on Mississippi State before taking on No. 1 Tampa in a mid-week matchup in hopes of finally beating an SSC opponent.

Live stats for all games this week can be found at Tampastats.com.  

Live broadcasts for all games this week can be found at TampaSpartans.tv.