
Mocs Unearth Spartans in Crucial Conference Loss
LAKELAND, Fla. - With few Sunshine State Conference games remaining, the No. 18 University of Tampa baseball team drops the first game against the No. 12 Florida Southern College Moccasins by a 6-2 final score. With the win, FSC improves to 27-9 with an 11-3 tally in conference matchups while the Spartans fall to 27-14 with 11-8 record in SSC play.
First baseman Heath Pritchard was the only Spartan batter to tally multiple hits, as he hit 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The Mocs drew the first blood in the first as they plated three runners off two hits, earning an early 3-0 lead.
Tampa tacks on a third inning run with a sacrifice fly from second baseman Eric Grabe to cut the deficit to 3-1.
FSC broke scoreless drought as centerfielder Kelvin Clark launched a three bagger to left center for third baseman Mike Snyder to double home. The Mocs increase their lead to a 4-1 tally.
UT first baseman Pritchard doubled to deep right in the sixth inning of play. An off throw garnered the Spartans their second run of the game, cutting the lead to a 4-2 margin.
The Mocs responded with two runs in the home half of the sixth as Colin Kish singled up the middle to plate the first runner. A sacrifice fly accounted for the second run as FSC leads 6-2 heading into the seventh inning.
Spartan Starter Josh Thrailkill was given the loss as the righty pitched six innings allowing six runs and fanning four Mocs batters. Mocs ace Gus Schlosser tossed 7 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while sending six Spartans down on strikes to earn his sixth win of the season. Righty Shane Riedie came in relief of Thrailkill, hurling two innings while giving up a single hit.
The Spartans look to bounce back as they finish the rivalry series with a twinbill slated to begin at 1 p.m. Live stats will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.
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