Spartans Rally to Sweep Doubleheader Against Stillman
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 10 University of Tampa Spartans (10-4) swept Sunday's double header against Stillman College thanks to some late inning dramatics in both contests. Tampa took the first game by a score of 10-8 and fought back to an 18-17 victory in an extra-inning game two.
In the first game, Tampa put three runs on the board in the first frame to give starter John Wiedenbauer (2-0) the early 3-0 lead on RBI singles from Jose Jimenez and Devin Gonzalez. Tampa added another run in the second when Correy Figueroa drove in Tyler Cox from second. Cox finished the game with a career-high three stolen bases.
The Tigers, however, would not go quietly. They picked up four runs in the fourth off Wiedenbauer to tie the game before taking a 5-4 lead in the fifth.
After Stillman starter Hampton Gibbs issued two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases in the bottom half of the inning, Gonzalez roped a three-run double to right field to put Tampa back on top 7-5. Correy Figueroa added an RBI groundout in the inning to make it 8-5.
Stillman brought the game back to within one before Tampa added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth to seal the win.
Game two featured an outburst of scoring from both teams. By the second inning, the Spartans were down 7-1 before they put up three runs and bring the game back within reach. The Tigers pitching then issued three consecutive walks in the fourth before Gonzalez ripped his second bases-clearing double of the afternoon, contributing to a seven-run Spartan inning.
In the fifth, Stillman centerfielder Sean Blair hit a home run, his first of two in the game. Blair finished the contest 5-for-6 with four RBIs while hitting for the cycle. After the Tigers put up four runs in the seventh to tie the game, Blair's second round tripper came in the top of the eighth to give Stillman a 17-16 lead.
Figueroa reached on a walk in the eighth. Jesus Barroso picked up his first hit of the game, a run-scoring double to tie the contest once again. The Spartans loaded the bases in their final at-bat before Steven Broschofsky hit a walk-off single to finish the game 18-17.
Tampa will head to Winter Haven on Thursday to take on Nebraska-Omaha at 6 p.m. UT will offer live stats through www.tampaspartans.com. Fans may also sign up for eScores through the website, a free service that sends text messages on Spartan athletic events.