#7 Spartans Power Past Lynn

Box score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The No. 7 University of Tampa (24-5, 7-0 SSC) baseball team picked up a 13-9 victory over defending NCAA Division II national champion Lynn University (10-16-1, 1-3 SSC) in a Sunshine State Conference matchup.

Tampa's Correy Figueroa gave an indication of where the game was headed as he blasted a lead-off home run over the right field wall to start the game. After UT added another first inning run, the Fighting Knights tacked on three in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 advantage.

A Mike Blanke home run to lead off the second evened the score at 3-3, though Lynn pulled ahead with back-to-back home runs to start their half of the second. The Knights added three more to take an 8-3 tilt through two innings.

Following a scoreless third inning, Dylan Brown smacked a two-run shot to cut the margin to 8-5. Lynn took back one of the runs with a solo shot in the bottom half of the fourth.

The fifth inning proved to be the deciding factor for the Spartans as it crossed five runs to take a 10-9 lead. Following a solo shot by Mike Schwartz, the Spartans got two on base for Larry Walicki to hit a three run home run. Figueroa then hit a sacrifice fly to give UT the lead for good. The Spartans added a pair of runs in the fifth and one in the sixth as insurance.

AJ Pinera started for Tampa and went 4.0 innings. Sean Bierman (3-1) earned the win in a stellar relief effort. The junior from Kinnelon, N.J., went the final 5.0 innings, giving up just two hits while allowing no runs. He also had three strikeouts with zero walks.

Walicki finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBI and a run. In addition to the game-tying home run, the junior from Boynton Beach, Fla., also had two doubles.

Figueroa, Jared Simon and Blanke each totaled two hits as Schwartz scored three runs while drawing three walks. He was also hit by a pitch as he reached base successfully five times.

The same two teams will do battle in a Saturday doubleheader at the McCusker Sports Complex. The first game is scheduled for 12 noon. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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