Easter Bunny Leaves DH Sweep in Tampa’s Basket
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tampa
|
0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
|
Florida Southern
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tampa
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1 |
|
Florida Southern
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
LAKELAND, Fla. - With a crucial RBI single in final inning of play, Heath Pritchard sealed the doubleheader sweep for the No. 18 University of Tampa baseball team against No. 12 Florida Southern College by a 11-6 in the first match and a close 6-5 win in the second of the twinbill.
Tampa improves to 29-14 on the season with a 13-8 mark in Sunshine State Conference games while the Mocs drop to 27-10 with an 11-5 tally in conference matchups.
Game one was paced by a strong offense as four Spartans notched multiple hits while the lineup combine for six extra-base knocks in the 11-6 win. Outfielder Andrew Jones tallied his team leading fourth homer of the season in game one. Catcher Adam Pendleton hit 3-for-3 in game one, all doubles, finishing the first match with two each of RBI and runs.
Tampa starter Justin Leith pitched four innings allowing just one earned run and two hits as the lefty outdueled FSC starter Stephen Batman. Leith ended with three strikeouts in the no-decision. Tim Kiley (4-0) came in to pitch 3.2 innings in relief of Leith, allowing a single earned run off three hits while sending two down on strikes to earn the win. Gotham's finest was given the loss, as Batman remained the pitcher of record.
This time around it was the Spartans to score first as sophomore Pendleton doubled to left center to put Cody Davis 90 feet away at third base. Third baseman Patrick Donahue would pick up an RBI groundout as Davis, who singled to start the inning, scored on the play, giving Tampa its first lead of the series at 1-0.
In the fourth inning, leftfielder Jones roped his towering two-run shot over the left field fence to increase the Spartan lead 3-0.
The backstop Pendleton struck again in the fifth as he picked up an RBI on his second two-bagger of the game. Designated hitter Taylor Wrenn would plate the catcher as he tripled to right field, setting the table for second baseman Eric Grabe to single the Lakeland native home. Grabe would chase Batman as the Spartans scored four runs on the inning good for a 7-1 lead.
The Mocs matched the Spartans in the fifth frame, scoring four runs in the home half to shrink the Spartan lead to 7-5.
Swift-swinging Wrenn plated two more Spartan runs as he smacked a first pitch double to right center to add some insurance to the Tampa lead. The pair of runs cushioned the UT lead as they are ahead with a 9-5 tally.
The red-hot Pendleton tacked on his second RBI off of his third two-bagger, as the catcher increases the Tampa lead to 11-5. Mocs designated hitter Austin Chubb launched a homer deep over the left field fence to tack on the sixth and final FSC run.
FSC jumped on the scoreboard in game two, as they tallied three early runs in the first frame. The Mocs strike first with a 3-0 lead.
A five run third inning set the table for the Spartans to regain the lead, as Shawn Pleffner and Pendleton tallied two RBI each. Centerfielder Davis accounts for the final run as UT now leads 5-3.
Chubb pulled FSC within a run of the Spartans after an RBI double brought Zach Maggard home from first. Tampa now owns a slim 5-4 lead over the resurging Mocs.
Pinch hitter Pritchard tacked on a late inning insurance run to give the Spartans a 6-4 lead heading into the final inning of play. The run ended up being the deciding factor to the slim win.
Third baseman Mike Snyder hit a first pitch bomb to left as the Mocs pull within a single run of the leading Tampa team.
Righty Ryan Kennedy earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings allowing a single earned run. Davis came in to close out the match, earning his second save of the season.
Tampa returns home to face Florida Tech in a non-conference game Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Live stats as well as a live webcast will be provided for the game.
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