Karstetter Three Hit Night Helps No. 1 Tampa Defeat Valdosta State

TAMPA, FL. – The #2 University of Tampa Spartans took care of business to begin their homestand in a mid-week matchup with Valdosta State.

Final: #2 Tampa 14, Valdosta State 3

Records: #2 Tampa (26-6), Valdosta State (20-15)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.  

 All-Time Series: This was the 59^th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 35-24 against the Blazers. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Mike Valdez led off the inning by drawing a walk. Brayden Woodburn followed with a walk of his own. With one out, Cole Russo walked to load the bases. Kevin Karstetter followed with a single to right to bring home Valdez. Maddox King followed with a single to left to bring home Woodburn. Jordan Williams then unloaded for his second home run of the season to bring in Karstetter and King for a three-run shot. With two outs, J.D. Urso launched his sixth home run of the season, launching a solo shot over the center-field wall. End | 7-0 Tampa
• After a lead-off single off Nico Saladino's bat, Urso followed with a triple to right center to bring home Saladino. End 5 | 8-3 Tampa
• Joe Stella led off the inning with a walk. Karstetter followed with a walk. Later in the inning, with two outs and second and third, Saladino tripled to right center to bring home two Spartans. End 6 | 10-3 Tampa
• Jake Griffith led off the inning, drawing a walk. Santiago Garavito followed, getting plunked with a pitch. Stella then doubled to right center to bring home Griffith and Garavito. Karstetter continued the Spartan's rally with his second home run of the season, this time blasting a 3-run shot over the left field wall. End 7 | 14-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE: 

• Karstetter: 3-4 (HR), BB, 3 R's, & 4 RBI's
• Stella: 2-2, BB, R, & RBI
• Urso: 2-3 (HR), SB, BB, R, & 2 RBI's
• Saladino: 2-4, R, & 2 RBI's

TO WATCH: 

• J. Williams: Has 49 stolen bases. Three stolen bases away from tying Eddie Cowans's single-season stolen base record of 52 in 1982.

ON THE MOUND: 

• Jacob Fletcher started on the mound. He threw 3 scoreless innings. Fletcher received the win and improved to 4-0 on the season.
• Eli Thurmond came in relief for Fletcher. He threw 2 innings while striking out 1 and giving up 3 earned runs.
• Ethan Brown came in relief for Thurmond. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 3.
• Logan Wash came in relief for Brown. He threw 1 scoreless inning while striking out 2.
• Michael Alfonso came in relief for Wash. He threw a scoreless ninth.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will begin their six-game SSC conference homestand on Friday, April 4^th, at 6:00 PM as they host Nova Southeastern.