Spartan Senior Sendoff Concludes With Series Sweep of Eckerd
TAMPA, Fla. - Concluding their regular season with a pair of wins, the No. 13 University of Tampa baseball team swept Sunshine State Conference foe Eckerd College by a score of 14-11 in the first game and 12-2 in the final matchup. Tampa's senior sendoff ends with a series sweep of the Tritons, as UT graduates seven senior baseball players.
The Spartans end the regular season 35-15 with a 16-8 SSC mark while the Tritons plummet to 17-32 and end conference play with a 5-19 mark.
The Spartans tallied five home runs on the day as outfielder Andrew Jones smacked two while Tyler Ding and Shawn Pleffner each went yard in the matchup. Third baseman Damon Elder was 5-for-8 with four RBI in both games while Jones finished with four RBI and five runs scored. In game two, third baseman Eric Grabe smacked the fifth and final home run of the day in the sixth inning, good for two runs as Tampa powered past the Eckerd Tritons.
Tampa tacked an early run to the score as Elder doubled home a runner to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.The Spartans put up five runs in the second, thanks to a three run homer off the bat of Jones, good for his fifth home run of the year.
Eckerd took three back in the top of the third off of a pair of hits to bring the margin within two at 6-4 before third baseman Kevin Rea evened the score with a two-run shot to left field, tying the game at 6-6.
The game wouldn't remain tied for long, however, as sluggers Jones and Pleffner launched back-to-back homers to regain the lead for the hot-hitting Spartans. Pleffner continued his rampage by adding a RBI triple to plate Elder before Tyler Ding smacked a two-run bomb over the left field fence to push the score to 11-6.
The Spartans added three and the Tritons rebounded with five of their own, but Tampa held on for the 14-11 win in the first contest.
Righty Daniel Foltz earned the win, pitching two innings with two strikeouts. Tritons starter Alex Menendez was tabbed for the loss, pitching three innings allowing eight each of runs and hits.
Game two saw Eckerd get ahead 1-0 in the second, but Tampa followed with a four-run fourth to garner the lead. After Pleffner doubled to lead off the inning, Grabe drove him home with a single to center. Trace Venegas, Cody Davis, and Grabe also crossed the plate in the inning.
The Spartans plated two batters in third and fourth inning as Pleffner picked up his second two bagger of the game. Tampa owns an 8-2 lead over the struggling Tritons heading into the home half of the fifth.
UT cushioned their lead further in the fifth as a Donahue triple gives the Spartans a towering 10-2 lead.
The trend of twos continued as Grabe smacked a two-run shot deep over the left field fence, giving Tampa a 10 run lead, finishing the Spartan offense with a 12-2 lead heading into the final inning of play.
Starter Ryan Kennedy earned his fourth win, pitching five innings of five hit baseball, allowing two runs while striking out three on the game.
The Spartans conclude their regular season and await results for the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.