Spartans Fall To Lynn In The South Regional Opener
MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The No. 10 University of Tampa Spartans suffered an 11-8 extra-inning loss at the hands Sunshine State Conference opponent Lynn University in the first game of the NCAA II South Region Baseball Tournament. Both teams return to action tomorrow with Tampa (39-16) facing the loser of tonight's matchup between Southern Arkansas and Stillman at 1:15 p.m. CST, while Lynn (39-16) will take on the winner.
The Fighting Knights outlasted the Spartans in the four hour contest, picking up three runs in the top half of the 10th off reliever Alex Koronis (8-2) to put the game out of reach.
Without registering a hit, Lynn picked up an early run in the first inning off UT's Josh Bowman, who lasted just 1.1 innings. The Spartans rebounded in the bottom half of the frame, however, when Jose Jimenez knocked in Correy Figueroa and Jesus Barroso with a double to left-center. Steven Broschofsky followed with an RBI single up the middle to put the Spartans ahead 3-1 after one complete.
The Fighting Knights added another run without the benefit of a hit in the next inning, when Chris Chavez supplied a run-scoring groundout to pull Lynn back within one. Chavez stroked LU's first hit of the contest in the following inning, scoring Daniel Flores from third to tie it. They added two more in the fifth to take their first lead, 5-3.
Jared Simon launched his ninth home run of the season over the left field wall in the fourth and designated hitter Mike Schwartz stroked his 13th of the year in the fifth to tie the game once again. Earlier in the day, Simon was named to the first team all-SSC in the utility position while Schwartz was named to the second team as designated hitter. Three other Spartans were also honored, as Koronis was named to the first team and Figueroa and Casey Albanese joined Schwartz on the second team.
The two teams traded three-run sixth innings to tie the game at 8-8 where it stood for three more frames. Lynn took over in the 10th and Tampa was unable to counter, bringing an end to the opening game of the tournament.
Tampa's game tomorrow is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CST. They will face the loser of SAU/SC in the elimination game. UT will offer livestats through www.tampaspartans.com and a live webcast will be available from www.muleriderathletics.com.