#7 Spartans Best #16 Mavericks

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - For the second time in a week, the No. 7 University of Tampa baseball team defeated a fellow nationally-ranked opponent, knocking down No. 16 University of Nebraska-Omaha 9-6 on Tuesday night after defeating former No. 13 Grand Valley State last Wednesday. The 11th consecutive win for the Spartans moves them to 23-5 on the season while the Mavericks drop to 11-5 overall.

Through the first three innings, neither side could break through on the scoreboard, but a Patrick Donahue RBI single gave the Spartans the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth. The Mavericks put up a four-spot in the fifth, however, to give UNO the lead.

Run-scoring singles off the bats of Mike Schwartz and Jared Simon brought the Spartans back to within one, before the Mavericks extended their lead back to three in the sixth. In the bottom of the frame, the Spartans added five runs, capped off by a two-run double from first baseman Devin Gonzalez to put Tampa up 8-6. UT added one more in the seventh with a Correy Figueroa groundout.

Carmine Giardina started the contest on the hill for Tampa and tossed five innings allowing four runs-two earned-and striking out seven Mavericks before exiting while trailing. After entering in relief with one out in the sixth, Tom Meagher (5-0) got the Spartans out of a jam and threw one and two-thirds innings to earn his fifth win of the year. Sophomore Aaron Gerbasi threw a scoreless eighth and Evan Stobbs struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the year.

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