Spartan Playoff Run Comes To An End With Loss To Blazers

Box score

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Despite a late inning rally that saw senior Jose Jimenez launch a two-run homer, The No. 10 University of Tampa Spartans saw their season come to an end on Saturday, as they dropped a 10-5 decision to No. 19 Valdosta State (43-20) in an NCAA II South Region Tournament elimination game. The Spartans (40-17) went 1-2 in the tournament, with their lone win coming over Stillman College.

After two quick outs in the first, Jimenez was issued his 54th walk of the season, tying a single-season school record shared previously by himself and Coach Joe Urso. Later in the game, Jimenez took his 55th free pass of the season, setting a new UT record. Mike Schwartz followed Jimenez with a long home run to right field to give the Spartans an early 2-0 lead.

The Blazers came back to tie in the second inning with a homer from catcher Chase Blackwood before Brandon Decker took the first pitch from Carmine Giardina (5-1) over the wall for his 22nd home run, giving VSU a 3-2 advantage.

Devin Gonzalez roped a double in the fourth and came around to score on a Garrett Maines single. Gonzalez finished 10-for-12 (.833) in Magnolia, totaling four doubles, a home run, and four runs batted in. The tie did not last for long however, as the Blazers tallied a run in the bottom of the frame to again take a one-run lead.

After Valdosta Stated added three more runs in the fifth and another three in the eighth, the 10-3 margin proved to be too large for Tampa to overcome, despite their efforts in the ninth.

Tyler Cox singled to open the inning and after two outs, Jimenez popped his 11th homer of the season in what would end up being his final collegiate at-bat, a fitting way to cap off his four-year, record-breaking career. Schwartz then singled, Steven Broschofsky walked, and Casey Albanese singled to keep the Spartans alive before a long fly out concluded the contest.