Spartans Start New Skid for Lions as They Sweep the Doubleheader
TAMPA, Fla. - After surrendering an April Fool's day loss, the No. 9 University of Tampa baseball team returned to form to sweep the Saturday doubleheader against Saint Leo University with a 7-2 win in game one and a the second game by a 3-2 tally.
The Spartans won the series two games to one and improve to 24-9 with an 8-4 record in the Sunshine State Conference while the Lions start a new skid, falling to 10-21 with a 2-10 record in conference play.
In game one, starting pitcher Frank DeJiulio (4-2) put together seven solid innings and was backed by an outstanding offensive effort. All but one Tampa starter managed a hit while five Spartans put together a multi-hit game. Seniors Patrick Donahue and Trace Venegas led the charge with three hits a piece while Damon Elder drove home three as Tampa went on to win 7-2.
The Lions got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the first frame when Ryan Powers drove home a run and Chris Newcomb scored on a wild pitch.
Tampa responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, starting when Elder's single up the middle got past Newcomb in centerfield allowing Eric Grabe and Donahue to cross the plate. Venegas followed with an RBI single to bring home Elder and essentially giving Tampa the lead for good in the first contest.
The Spartans tacked on a run in the second on back-to-back doubles from Zach Gawrych and Taylor Wrenn. The lead was extended further in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Andrew Jones and a two-run single off the bat of Elder.
Despite giving up the two early runs, DeJiulio was effective over seven innings surrendering just six hits and striking out five for his team-leading fourth victory of the season. Daniel Foltz came on in relief and hurled two perfect innings to preserve the victory for UT.
Cody Johnson (1-3) started for SLU and was charged with the loss, lasting just 2.1 innings.
Elder hit a perfect 3-for-3 in game two, picking up two RBI in the 3-2 victory while Jones also contributed two hits.
Game two led off with a quick two run lead for the Spartans as a base hit by Elder plated Donahue who singled to start the first inning. Venegas smacked a two-bagger down the leftfield line to score the other run of the frame, giving Tampa a 2-0 tally.
Jones would tack on an insurance run in the fifth by way of a RBI single up the middle, bringing Donahue around to score his second run of the game.
Saint Leo scored a run in the sixth as Anthony Santa picks up an RBI single to end the five inning shutout. The Lions would add another run in the inning to pull within one of the Spartans 3-2 lead.
Starter Justin Leith earned his second win pitching five strong innings of two-run baseball. The lefty allowed just two hits while sending three down on strikes. Tim Kiley came in to relieve Leith, pitching two innings to shut the door on the Lions on route to his fifth save of the season. Tampa returns to action Friday as they continue their SSC matchups facing tough opponent Rollins College in a three game homestand starting at 6 p.m.
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