#16 Tampa Handles Saint Leo 9-2

Box score

SAINT LEO, Fla. - In a nonconference meeting on Tuesday night, the No. 16 University of Tampa Spartans took down the Saint Leo Lions by a score of 9-2. The win brings the Spartans to 28-10 overall while Saint Leo drops to 13-23. The Spartans were led by huge games from Jesus Barroso and Jose Jimenez, who combined to go 6-for-7 at the plate with eight runs batted in.

Jimenez went deep twice in the game, including a solo shot to lead off the third and a three-run homer in the fourth, to back starter Carmine Giardina (5-0). Giardina threw five solid innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out six Lions batters. Tommy Meagher tossed three innings in relief of Giardina allowing just one hit and no runs. Freshman Max Kreuter pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

Barroso finished the night with four hits in five at-bats, driving in four Tampa runs. He doubled twice and scored two runs himself. Steven Broschofsky also picked up an RBI in the game while Jared Simon was held hitless for the first time in fourteen games.

The Lions' Corey Casuso (0-2) was tabbed with the loss, as he went just three innings against Tampa allowing six runs, all earned, with four walks.

The Spartans travel to Florida Tech this weekend to take on the Panthers in a Sunshine State Conference series beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday. UT will offer livestats through www.tampaspartans.com.