Tampa Stumbles In NCAA Opener

Box score

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The University of Tampa (35-16) baseball team opened the 2011 NCAA Division II South Regional with a 4-1 setback to Harding University (42-12), in the opening day of double elimination play at the University of West Florida.

Harding struck for the game's first run with a Jason Nappi RBI single in the bottom of the third, which was answered in the fifth with Tampa's lone run of the game.

The Spartans scored as Damon Elder advanced home on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth. Elder had led the frame off with a single as Tyler Ding followed with a single to give UT its first offensive threat of the afternoon.

The Bisons scored the deciding runs in the sixth inning, crossing a pair and adding an insurance run in the seventh inning.

Each team had nine hits, with the Spartans leaving nine runners on base and grounding into a season-high four double plays. Ding led UT with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate while Shawn Pleffner turned in a pair of hits.

Josh Thrailkill (3-4) started for the Spartans, throwing 5.1 innings while allowing three earned runs. The Spartan ace also had four strikeouts as he was in command for five innings.

UT will now face Southern Arkansas University in a rematch of the 2010 regional final on Friday at 10 a.m. Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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