Tampa Takes Series At Florida Southern In Record-Breaking Fashion

Box score

LAKELAND, Fla. - On a night when senior Jose Jimenez broke two all-time records, Jesus Barroso broke a 6-6 tie in extra innings with a solo home run to complete the No. 18 University of Tampa Spartans doubleheader sweep of the No. 11 Florida Southern Moccasins. After dropping the series opener on Friday, Tampa took game one 15-9 and won the extra-inning affair 7-6 to take the series against their Sunshine State Conference rival. UT improved to 39-15 on the season and 16-8 in the SSC, while FSC drops to 36-13, 14-7 SSC.

The Spartans were trailing the Moccasins 6-3 in the seventh and final inning when Jimenez walked and Steven Broschofsky followed with a single to centerfield. With one out, sophomore Jared Simon drove the 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to tie the game and force extras before Barroso hit a homer of his own to put Tampa out in front for good.

UT grabbed the early lead in the game when Simon stroked a two-run single, but FSC benefited from a throwing error by Barroso and put up four runs in the third. A.J. Pinera went four innings allowing just two earned runs to go along with four strikeouts for the Spartans.

Josh Bowman (4-3) took the mound in the fifth for Tampa and threw three and two-thirds innings, striking out six to keep UT in the game and earn his fourth win of the season.

Jimenez drew three walks in the first game-four in the second-to pass the career walks record set by head coach Joe Urso. Jimenez now stands at 182 walks over his four years at Tampa, six ahead of Urso. Behind the plate to start the second contest, Jimenez also passed former Spartan Ronnie Merrill, Jr. to gain first on the career games started list with 226.

The first contest saw a huge game from designated hitter Mike Schwartz who went 3-for-5 with two monster three-run homers and a two-RBI double to give him eight runs batted in for the game. Correy Figueroa also went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs and Barroso added two RBIs of his own.

Alex Koronis (8-1) started on the hill for Tampa and went five innings for the Spartans en route to the victory. Danny Keefe (2) threw three and a third innings in relief to collect his second save of the season in the 15-9 win.

The series victory concludes the regular season for Tampa as they wait to find out if they will earn a berth to the NCAA II South Regional.