#5 Spartans Split Opening Day Doubleheader with #4 Bobcats
TAMPA, Fla. - In a tough match-up pitting the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the nation against each other, the No. 5 ranked University of Tampa baseball team (1-1) split the season opening doubleheader against the No. 4 Georgia College Bobcats (1-1). For five consecutive seasons, the Spartans have taken the first game of the series, ending the first contest 13-4 while the Bobcats bounced back to win the nightcap of Tampa's home-opener by an 8-5 margin.
The Bobcats wasted no time scoring to open the first game, as Patrick Daugherty tripled down the right field line and scored on Shawn Ward's groundout. Tampa responded in the bottom half of the frame when designated hitter Taylor Wrenn doubled to straight-away center field and scored on Shawn Pleffner's infield single.
UT grabbed the lead for good in the third when Pleffner singled, Damon Elder doubled, and Trace Venegas walked to start the inning. A wild pitch advanced the runners, scoring Pleffner, and Raiko Alfonso laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring around Elder.
Tampa pushed across three more runs in the following inning off the bat of Elder who doubled down the left field line with the bases loaded.
The Spartan offense continued its hot hitting, striking seven more times over the next two frames to make it a 13-2 advantage for the home team heading into the eighth. Georgia College staged a small rally in the final inning, but Shawn Ferris came in to record the final two outs and preserve the 13-4 victory.
Wrenn, Pleffner, and Elder each collected four hits in their Tampa debut while Eric Grabe tallied three more. The Spartans put up 17 hits as a team as the Bobcats managed 11 for the contest.
Evan Stobbs (1-0) earned the opening day nod and put together six strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits. The right-handed senior fanned eight hitters and did not issue a walk to pick up his first win of the season.
Ryan Parson (0-1) started for Georgia College and was tagged for the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits and four walks.
Much like the first contest, the Bobcats tacked on an early run off a Tanner Funk sacrifice fly after right-fielder Josh Young doubled down the left field line to take a 1-0 lead in the first.
Tampa answered back in the second thanks to Elder's fourth double of the night. Left fielder Connor Obrochta singled and stole second to set up the pair of Spartans for center fielder Tyler Ding to single home, plating both and regaining the lead at 2-1.
Young swatted his second double to center field in the top of the third, later scoring on a fielding error to tie up the contest in the third frame.
Obrochta led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left. A bunt moved the outfielder into scoring position where pinch hitter Alfonso doubled him home. Alfonso later scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Patrick Donahue, putting the Spartans on top 4-2.
The Bobcats busted it open in the fifth, due to doubles from Daugherty and Funk, and a two RBI single from first baseman Cody Maas. The five run attack put Georgia ahead on a score of 7-4. Designated hitter Richard Pirkle ended the scoring for the Bobcats off of a solo shot crushed to left field in the seventh, final score 8-5.
Bobcats starter Jason Nicholas earned the win, pitching 6.1 innings of five run baseball, striking out two.
Tampa reliever Aaron Gerbasi (0-1) was given the loss on the night, pitching one inning while giving up three runs.
The Spartans will finish the series on Saturday Feb. 5 at the University of Tampa Baseball Field, game time 1 p.m.
Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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