Spartans Sweep Doubleheader with Northern Kentucky
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team took the first two games of the weekend series against Northern Kentucky University 4-3 and 6-2, respectively. Tampa is now 12-2-1 on the season, while Northern Kentucky drops to 0-4.
The Spartans started off strong in game one, taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Jose Jimenez. Jesus Barroso scored from second on the play following a one out single and a stolen base.
Northern Kentucky tied the game in the third on an RBI single by Jake Shaffer. Tampa responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good, getting an RBI groundout from Junior Mejia and a single through the right side by Nolan Brannon that scored Barroso to make it 3-1.
There were a number of fine defensive plays throughout the day, but none as impressive as Barroso's play in the hole during the fourth inning. On a ball hit deep in the hole between third and short, the native of Panama deftly backhanded the ball, and finished the play with a strong throw to rob Kevin Dusold of a hit.
The Norse closed the gap with a run in the sixth, as Jeff Bohlen singled home Dusold to cut the Spartan advantage to 3-2. Tampa added a run on a sacrifice fly by Barroso in the seventh to widen the lead to 4-2.
With the Spartans leading 4-2 in the top of the ninth, Northern Kentucky came to bat against the Tampa closer, Anthony Perez. After a leadoff walk, Perez got the Norse designated hitter to ground out to third, enabling Casey Albanese to start the 5-4-3 double play.
Northern Kentucky's Jon Back then came up with the bases empty and two down, only to hit a long home run to left field, one that would have given the Norse the lead if it were not for the double play. Perez retired the next batter to secure the 4-3 win, and his fifth save of the season.
Tampa and Northern Kentucky traded runs in the first inning of game two, with UT's run coming on a sacrifice fly by Brannon. Garrett Maines then came to bat with one out in the second, and hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot that hit roughly a third of the way up the netting in left field. The Spartans scored two more runs in the inning to take a 4-1 lead following a walk and an RBI ground out.
Tampa widened the lead to 5-1 in the fifth with an RBI single by Ryan Williams. Mejia then provided the highlight of the game in the sixth, hitting a towering solo home run to straight away center field that bounced off the top of the batter's eye. Northern Kentucky added a run in the seventh on an RBI ground out.
Kevin Ferguson and Scott Chapman got the starts for Tampa, with Ferguson throwing game one, and Chapman pitching the second game. Ferguson picked up his third win of the season with a strong outing, going six innings while allowing two runs on six hits, and striking out seven.
Chapman went the distance for the Spartans in game two, throwing the first complete game of the season for Tampa. He went the full seven innings, allowing both runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Barroso led the Spartans with three hits in six at-bats, driving in two runs and stealing a base. Mejia, Brannon, and Jimenez joined him with two RBIs each in the doubleheader. Williams added two stolen bases to raise his team-leading total to nine on 12 attempts this season, while Brannon captured his second theft of the season, and of his career.
The Spartans are back in action tomorrow in the series finale against Northern Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.