Tampa Advances to Championship with Win Over Catawba

Box score

TAMPA, Fla - The #1 seed University of Tampa overcame a five-run fifth inning by #3 Catawba College to defeat the Indians 12-7 in a battle of unbeatens. The win secured the Spartans a spot in tomorrow's championship game.

Tampa scored ten of their twelve runs with two outs, including three in the first inning. After Catawba starter Tim Smith (6-3) issued a pair of walks to Ryan Williams and Jose Jimenez, third baseman Nolan Brannon hit a homerun to right-center to give the Spartans the early lead.

After the Spartans added another run in the third thanks to an RBI double by Jimenez, the Catawba offense got going against Tampa's Kevin Ferguson in the fifth. Center-fielder David Thomas and right-fielder Jerry Sands contributed RBI singles for the Indians before Ryan Query homered to put Catawba on top 5-4.

With two outs in the sixth, Smith walked Steven Broschofsky who came around to score from first after designated hitter Brett McKean hit a clutch double to tie the game. The Spartans showed their power throughout the rest of the game, utilizing the long ball to put it out of reach. After Jimenez launched one well over the right-centerfield wall, Brannon hit his second of the game. Jesus Barroso continued to swing a hot bat, adding a homerun of his own.

Right-hander Anthony Perez (4-1) earned the win for the Spartans, tossing three innings in relief of Ferguson. Perez struck out three, allowing two runs on three hits against the Indians.

Tampa will play in the championship matchup tomorrow, while Catawba faces the winner of #2 Tusculum and #5 Carson-Newman tonight.