#8 Spartans Sink Tars in Close SSC Matchup

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - In a game that saw four lead changes, the No. 8 University of Tampa baseball team emerged victorious as they defeated Rollins College 8-7 in their close Friday night matchup. The Spartans progress to 25-9 on the season with a 9-4 record in Sunshine State Conference play as the Tars fall to 20-15 with a 2-8 SSC tally.

Outfielder Connor Obrochta hit 2-for-3 on the night, including a solo shot to left center. The swift-swinging freshman also tallied two each of RBI and runs. Junior Taylor Wrenn picked up three RBI off of two hits while senior Patrick Donahue also had a multi-hit game with a pair of RBI. Right fielder Damon Elder was the final Spartan to record two hits, doubling twice for the Tampa attack.

The Tars jumped on the board in the first inning of play, tacking on a quick run to put them ahead of the Spartans 1-0.

Both starters settled in, allowing only two hits apiece through five innings of work. At the bottom of the fifth Tampa took the lead as they plated two runners off of a two-bagger off the bat of shortstop Donahue, shifting the score to a 2-1 margin.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Rollins tacked on three runs to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Tars third baseman Kevin Mager roped an RBI double to center to add one of the Rollins three, as the Spartans trail by two runs.

A four run bottom of the sixth pushed Tampa back in the lead as Obrochta and pinch hitter Shawn Pleffner each notch and RBI but designated hitter Wrenn smacked the go-ahead two-run double to force another lead change.

Rollins chipped away at their two run deficit as they add another run in the seventh to pull within one of the Spartans at a 6-5 tally.

Obrochta hit a laser solo-shot to left center to pick up his first homerun of his freshman season, as UT hangs on to the lead in the eighth. Junior Wrenn picked up his third RBI of the night by way of the sacrifice fly.

Some late inning magic in the top of the ninth pushed the Tars within one run of the 8-7 Spartan lead but a key double play shut the door on the Rollins rally as Tim Kiley tallied his sixth save of the season in two innings of work.

Reliever Daniel Foltz picked up the win in his 1.1 innings of work while the Tars' Venegas was tabbed with the loss.

Tampa returns to action Saturday in twinbill fashion as they look to close out the series with Rollins, game one scheduled for a 3 p.m. start as the nightcap will begin at 6 p.m. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.

Fans may also follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.