Tampa Needs Two Games as Jimenez Sends the Spartans Back to Montgomery

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The #1 University of Tampa (49-10) was shut-out for the first time all season by Florida Southern (44-16) in game one by a 7-0 score, before winning game two in a dramatic tenth inning finale 8-5.

The first game was hitless over the first two innings but the Moccasins got four straight hits in the third to put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Singles by Bryan Brown and David Golliner drove in Robbie Shields and Arden McWilliams. Ross Jackson recovered, getting himself out of further trouble by striking out Fred Popp and Brian Schultz to end the inning.

Florida Southern loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs before Shields drove in two runs with a single to center, ending Jackson's day. Craig Benner came up huge in relief with runners on first and third. McWilliams lined out to second on Benner's 0-1 pitch, Shields was caught leaning and Ryan Kennedy tossed over to Jose Jimenez at first for the well-timed double-play. The inning ended as Brown grounded out to third, with Southern leading 4-0.

A Spartan error led to another run for the Moccasins in the fifth. With runners on first and second Will Cherry grounded to Roberto Mena who tossed to Kennedy at second, however the throw from Kennedy was wide of Jimenez allowing Golliner to score from second.

Schultz's two-out RBI triple drove in Popp from first base in the top of the seventh and Cherry's base hit through the left side extended the Florida Southern lead to 7-0.
Johnny Williams tossed the eighth and ninth innings for Tampa, making his first appearance in over a month. He only allowed two ninth inning hits but no runs in his return to the mound.

The Spartans' Jackson fell to 8-5 on the season and Jeremy Thorne's gem improved him to 6-5 on the season.
For the second game of the South Region Championship Tampa was the designated visiting team and they came to the plate determined to get a run on the board after being shut-out in game one. Craig Corrado hit a two-out single to right, then stole second and advanced to third on the play as the catcher threw the ball into center field. Mena then laid down a perfect bunt down the third baseline that appeared to be on its way foul before stopping just inside the line for an RBI bunt single as Corrado scored easily.

The Spartans scored another run in the top of the third on a wild play. Junior Mejia led off the inning with a single has he beat out the throw from McWilliams the third baseman, then stole second easily. Troy Ferguson stepped to the plate and attempted to bunt with two strikes, he missed as the ball hit the dirt out of the reach of the catcher, Golliner. Mejia took off for third on the wild pitch, Golliner threw to third but the throw hit the ground and bounced off the third baseman and Mejia scored on the throwing error, giving Tampa a 2-0 lead.

Florida Southern answered with a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Brown as he drove in Shields, who reached on a single then stole second.

The Spartans chased Southern starter Dan Albritton in the fifth with three runs on four hits. Mejia led off the inning reaching on an error by the shortstop Shields. T. Ferguson then bunted down the third baseline for a base hit. Kennedy advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt before Corrado singled through the left side, scoring Mejia. Mena and then Brannon followed suit with RBI singles of their own as T. Ferguson and Corrado crossed the plate giving Tampa a 5-1 lead.

Kevin Ferguson walked out to the mound in the bottom of the fifth replacing surprise starter Jonathan Holt. K. Ferguson pitched the previous evening and tossed eight innings in defeating the Tusculum Pioneers, but he threw 107 pitches in the effort. Shields reached base with a one-out hit-by-pitch, the proceeded to steal second. Brown singled to left for an RBI as Shields scored easily. After a Golliner walk, Popp drove a K. Ferguson down the left field line for an RBI double as Brown scored the third Moccasin run. With a Schultz fly ball, the inning ended with the Spartans leading 5-3.

Scott Leffler came to the mound in the sixth but gave up two singles and a base on balls before being relieved by Anthony Perez. Shields hit a drive to left that looked like it was going to leave the yard but it held up in the wind a fell into the glove of T. Ferguson, but was deep enough to score Cherry. McWilliams tied the game with a hard single through the right side as Kyle Patrick scored. Perez struck out Brown and Golliner to end the sixth with the game tied at five.
In the top of the ninth Florida Southern reliever Ryan Koch got himself in a jam and was replaced by the left fielder Schultz. Schultz, who hadn't thrown a pitch all season got out of the inning, inducing a foul-pop-out off the bat of Corrado and a line-out from Mena to get out of the inning.

The tenth was a different story for Schultz who led off the inning with a walk to Charlie Raley and hit Chris Rosenbaum with an errant pitch. Jimenez stepped to the plate and attempted to bunt numerous times unsuccessfully before working the count full. The pay-off pitch from Schultz was a blast to right that brought the UT faithful to their feet. Jimenez was greeted at the plate as they mobbed the big-lefty and celebrated their three run lead.

Tampa still needed three more outs and after Perez allowed Schultz and Cherry to reach base with one out, he retired Patrick and Tristan Rainone, sending the Tampa Spartans to Montgomery, Ala. for the second consecutive season.

Perez was wonderful (6-0) as he tossed the final five innings allowing no runs on only two hits in collecting his second victory of the tournament.

The Spartans making the NCAA II All-South Region Team:
1B Nolan Brannon
OF Craig Corrado
DH Jose Jimenez
P Jonathan Holt - All-South Region Tournament Most Outstanding Player
P Anthony Perez

As the representative of the south region in the Division II National Championship the Spartans will play Friday, May 25th against the west regional champion, Mesa State or Cal State-Los Angeles.