Spartans Drop SSC Opener to Sharks
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tampa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
|
Nova Southeastern
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 0 |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - On the night that Sunshine State Conference play opened for the Spartans, the No. 6 University of Tampa baseball team dropped their SSC opener to Nova Southeastern University by a 6-4 tally. The Sharks improve to 12-6 (1-0 SSC) on the season while the Spartans fall to a 13-6 (0-1 SSC) record.
Junior third baseman Eric Grabe hit 3-for-5 with triple and three RBI on the night. Shortstop Patrick Donahue and outfielder Damon Elder each notched two hits in three at-bats while Donahue tallied the Spartan's only other RBI.
Nova took a quick lead as right fielder Areo Regoli singled home infielder Carlos Asuaje who led off the inning with a base hit to center. The Sharks stand ahead of the Spartans by a 1-0 tally after one full inning of play.
The Sharks tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth as a costly error pushes the NSU lead to 3-0 at the end of the third frame.
The top of the fourth, NSU starter Isaac Hicks issued four walks on the inning to load the bases and cross Elder. With three Spartans aboard, Grabe smacked his bases-clearing triple down the right field line to take the lead for the Spartans at a slim 4-3 margin.
NSU outfielder Daniel Petitbon launched a two-run shot to retake the lead for the Sharks in the home half of the seventh, score now 5-4. The Sharks would add another run in the eighth to push the game from reach for the Spartans.
Right-hander Shane Riedie was tabbed with the loss, pitching three innings giving up three hits including the homerun, while fanning six. Nick Avila earned the win for the Sharks hurling 2.1 innings in relief of Isaac Hicks.
The Spartans hit the field Saturday to finish their series against NSU with a doubleheader, first game to start at 1 p.m. at the NSU Baseball Complex. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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