#24 Tampa Opens Conference Play With Win Over Eckerd

Box score

TAMPA, Fla - The No. 24 University of Tampa baseball team overpowered Eckerd College 11-5 on Friday night in the Spartans' first Sunshine State Conference game of the season. Tampa (20-7, 1-0) will face the Tritons (13-10, 2-2) again in tomorrow afternoon's double header.

The Spartans got on the board in the first when Jesus Barroso singled and stole second before Jose Jimenez drove him in with a single to left center. Barroso finished with a 3-4 game with an RBI and two runs scored.

Eckerd rebounded in the top of the second scoring two runs off a walk, single, and triple. Tampa added another run in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Nick Nordgren double, which drove in Steven Broschofsky from third.

Eckerd followed with a three spot the next inning off Tampa starter A.J. Pinera, who went three innings allowing five runs, four earned. That would be all the Tritons could muster as Spartan pitching shut out Eckerd batters the rest of the way. Tommy Meagher (3-1) tossed four scoreless innings of three-hit ball to earn the win. Meagher struck out seven Tritons while walking just two.

The Spartans' offense came alive to put up nine more runs over the remainder of the game. Broschofsky ended the day 4-5 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Nordgren, who drove in Broschofsky in the second, also collected two RBIs to go along with two hits. Jared Simon also cranked his fifth home run of the season and team-leading 23rd, 24th, and 25th RBIs.

Carmine Giardina threw two scoreless innings in relief, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Tomorrow's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. UT will offer livestats through www.tampaspartans.com.