Spartans Make Squires Of Knights
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The No. 7 University of Tampa (26-5, 9-0) baseball team remained perfect in the Sunshine State Conference with a doubleheader sweep of defending national champion Lynn University (10-18-1, 1-5 SSC). The Spartans won by scores of 10-2 and 6-3.
Game one started as a low-scoring affair as the Fighting Knights took a 1-0 lead with a run in the third. UT starting pitcher John Wiedenbauer was chased after 3.1 innings, though he only allowed one run while striking out four.
A Mike Blanke triple to lead off the fifth inning fueled a three-run inning for the Spartans as it took a 3-1 lead. Brad Roberts and Mike Schwartz added an RBI apiece for UT in the fifth.
Lynn cut the Spartan lead to 3-2 as it scored one in the sixth, but the Spartans responded with four in the top of the seventh. Dylan Brown had an RBI triple as Jared Simon and Blanke also drove in a run.
Tampa tacked on some additional insurance in the ninth inning as Patrick Donahue and Tyler Cox hit back-to-back jacks with two outs. Donahue's was a two-run shot, scoring Brett McKean.
Tom Meagher (6-0) remained perfect on the season as he picked up the win with a 2.2 inning effort. He finished with two strikeouts on the afternoon.
Evan Stobbs earned his third save of the year in 3.0 innings of relief. The junior from Myakka City, Fla., forced a double play and left a Knight stranded upon entering in the seventh inning. Stobbs allowed just two hits while striking out four.
Roberts finished 4-for-5 at the plate with a run and an RBI. A total of six Spartans turned in multiple hit efforts as Donahue led the way with three RBI.
In game two, Lynn crossed the first run in the second inning, taking a 1-0 early advantage. The Spartans evened the slate at 1-1 on a two-out single by Schwartz to score Donahue in the top of the third.
A passed ball and fielding blunder cost the Fighting Knights a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Spartans went up 3-1 as Donahue scored on the passed ball. After reaching on an error, Figueroa then scored the second run of the frame for UT on a Schwartz single. Both runs were unearned for Lynn starter Tommy Kahnle, who was coming off a no-hitter against Saint Leo on Mar. 13.
Tampa extended its lead in the sixth with three runs to move its advantage to 6-1. Blanke, Donahue and Figueroa drove in a run apiece for the Spartans.
Josh Bowman (4-1) pitched a gem for the Spartans, holding the Fighting Knights in check with his first complete game of the season. In 7.0 innings, he had nine strikeouts.
The Spartans will head to Saint Leo University for a mid-week tuneup as it meets the Lions at 6 p.m. The contest will be a non-conference meeting between the SSC schools. UT will offer live stats through www.tampaspartans.com.
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Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score