Spartans Split Saturday Doubleheader With Tars

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The No. 2 University of Tampa baseball team saw its 25 game win streak come to an end as it split the conference doubleheader with Rollins College. The Spartans record is now 37-6 overall and 17-1 in the Sunshine State Conference while the Tars record stands at 25-16 and 8-7 SSC.

UT won the first game of the Saturday doubleheader by a 11-5 margin but fell in the second game as the Tars rallied in the ninth to add three runs and defeat the Spartans 4-3. Not only were the Spartans handed their first road loss but also their first SSC defeat.

Catcher Mike Blanke had an excellent series, going 6-for-11 on the weekend with five hits were extra-bases. He finished the series with five RBI and crossed the plate twice for the Spartans.

In game one, Blanke drilled a line drive homer over the leftfield fence in the second to start the Spartan attack, his seventh home run of the season. Slugger Jared Simon added his tenth homer of the season, a towering three-run shot in the fourth.

The Spartans put up six runs in the second frame off of Blanke's homer and back to back doubles from third-baseman Trace Venegas and shortstop Correy Figueroa. Figueroa ended the game hitting 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI.

Tampa starting pitcher A.J. Pinera gets the win, pitching six innings while walking two and punching out five. Reliever Tom Meagher picked up his second save of the season, pitching three solid innings, striking out six and walking none.

First baseman Devin Gonzalez led off the second frame of game two by belting a solo shot to deep right, his third of the season. Blanke added another pair of doubles in the contest, totaling his five extra-base hits on the series.

Game two starting pitcher Josh Bowman pitched six and two-thirds innings giving up a single earned run while sending nine Tars down on strikes in the game two loss.

The Spartans hit the road again on Tuesday for a contest against Warner. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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