Spartans Walk Off With Win over Florida Southern

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The third-ranked University of Tampa baseball team (14-4-1, 1-2 SSC) overcame a near perfect game by the Moccasins of Florida Southern College (9-12, 2-1 SSC) to walk off with a 2-1 victory in the series finale over its Sunshine State Conference rival.

The Spartans held the Mocs in check until the top of the fifth, when leadoff man Trae Gore beat out a high chopper back to the mound with two outs, allowing Wade Kirkland to come in from third to score the game's first run.

Southern's Stephen Batman retired the first 22 batters he faced before surrendering Tampa's first hit to Ryan Williams. The senior from Ellenton, Fla., took a 1-1 pitch from Batman and stroked it just inside of the first base bag for a one out double. Williams later scored on consecutive wild pitches to tie the game at 1-1 after eight innings.

With one out and the score still tied in the bottom of the ninth, senior transfer Steven Broschofsky came to bat as a pinch-hitter, and lined a 1-2 pitch through the right side of the infield to put the winning run on base for the Spartans. Brenton Cianci then pinch ran for Broschofsky, ending up at third with two outs following a ground out and a wild pitch.

Jesus Barroso stepped up to the plate with two outs and Cianci on third, and after a ball in the dirt, lined a two out, walk-off single into right field to score Cianci from third and give Tampa the 2-1 win.

Freshman Josh Bowman got the start for the Spartans, and pitched seven solid innings, allowing one run on six hits. He also walked two and struck out five. Anthony Perez picked up his first win of the season with two shutout innings of relief.

The Spartans are back in action tomorrow against visiting Slippery Rock University (Pa.). First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.