#15 Spartans Split Doubleheader At #4 Barry
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - After dropping the first two games of the series, the No. 15 University of Tampa Spartans avoided a Sunshine State Conference sweep at the hands of No. 4 Barry University thanks to a complete game, three-hitter from starter Alex Koronis. Saturday's doubleheader split moves Tampa to 37-14 on the season, 14-7 in the SSC, while Barry goes to 40-7, 17-4 in league play.
Behind Koronis, the Tampa offense put up a big third inning. Correy Figueroa led off the inning with a double, Tyler Cox walked, and Jesus Barroso reached on a bunt to load the bases for Jose Jimenez, the only Spartan to record multiple hits in the first contest. He followed with a two-RBI single down the right field line to put Tampa on top 2-0. Steven Broschofsky then launched the 0-1 pitch way over the left field wall to make the lead 5-0. A run-scoring single from Casey Albanese rounded out six-run inning.
Koronis started the contest with four perfect innings before allowing a walk and a hit in the fifth. He allowed just three hits while striking out seven batters, including five straight between the second and third innings. Barry got one run off Koronis in the sixth, but Jimenez followed an inning later with a solo shot to left to reclaim the six-run margin.
In game one, the Spartans got on the board in the first frame when Tyler Cox came around to score on an RBI single from Steven Broschofsky. The lead was short-lived for the Spartans however, as the Buccaneers stormed back in the bottom half of the inning to plate three.
Tampa used a fielder's choice from Jesus Barroso to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Bucs added two in the fourth and one in the fifth to push the score out of reach for the Spartans. Correy Figueroa blasted a solo shot over the right field wall in the seventh but UT was unable to muster enough offense against Barry starter Charley Short (11-0), who went six strong innings for the win.
A.J. Pinera (2-3) was tabbed with the loss after throwing five and one-third innings. Carmine Giardina entered in the sixth to throw two and two-thirds innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out three.
Tampa will finish out the regular season next weekend on the road at SSC rival Florida Southern in Lakeland. The three-game set will feature a Friday night game and a doubleheader on Sunday. UT will offer livestats through www.tampaspartans.com.