Spartans Edge Ravens for Mid-Week Win

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team defeated Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday night by a one-run margin. The win improves the Spartan squad to 19-5, while dropping the Ravens record to 10-7.

The Ravens took the early lead after scoring one run in both the second and third innings. The Spartans responded in the bottom of the fourth to put them on top. After leading off the inning with two outs, Tampa was still able to pick up four runs.

Senior Eric Grabe doubled to left-center followed by a walk drawn by Andrew Jones. A single by Jacob Schrader scored Grabe to put the Spartans on the board. Heath Pritchard was put in to pinch hit with two runners on. The 6'6" senior lifted a ball over the left field wall for a three-run homerun.

The Ravens tied the game up at four in their next chance at-bat.

The Spartans tacked on one run in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to put them up 7-4 on Franklin Pierce. A small scare came in the top of the ninth after Raven offense brought the score to within one. The Spartans, however, were able to get out of the jam and produce another win.

Three Spartans would end up going 2-for-4 on the night including Anthony Caronia, Jacob Schrader, and Connor Obrochta. Pritchard's pinch hit homerun marks Tampa's eleventh of the year and his second.

Junior southpaw Eric Luksis started on the mound for Tampa. Luksis threw for 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs to a tough Raven offense. Aaron Gerbasi struck out one in 0.2 innings pitched followed by an appearance by Evan Stobbs.

Stobbs struck out one Raven and allowed no hits in 1.2 innings pitched. He was later awarded the win, his second. Sophomore Preston Packrall pitched two complete innings to close out the game. Packall allowed four hits, two earned runs, and picked up his third save of the season.

The Spartan pitching staff did not walk one batter in its nine innings of work against Franklin Pierce. Tampa offense tallied nine hits total.

The Spartans are scheduled to travel to Saint Leo University on Friday for a 6 p.m. matchup. The contest will begin the three-game series between the two conference opponents. Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.com.

Fans may 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.