Spartans Split Saturday Twin Bill with Rival Mocs
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida Southern
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
|
Tampa
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida Southern
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
|
Tampa
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 7 | 11 | 2 |
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team split a doubleheader with Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Southern on Saturday. The divide brings the Spartans' record to 30-7 (12-6 SSC) as the Mocs move to 20-17 (8-9 SSC).
Tampa took the first game of the twin bill by a five-run margin. The first of its runs came in the third inning after a solo homerun by sophomore Shane Rowland and a RBI by senior Damon Elder put the Spartans up 2-0 on the Mocs.
UT would combine to plate five more Spartans in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to put their run total at seven.
The Mocs scored one unearned run in both the sixth and seventh innings, but their offensive efforts were not enough to put them passed the Spartans. Tampa defeated the Mocs with a final score of 7-2.
Senior Sean Bierman started on the mound forTampa. The righty pitched seven complete innings and recorded one earned run. Bierman struck out three Mocs, walked none, and allowed five hits. The win improves Bierman to 6-2 on the season with a 1.91 ERA.
Evan Stobbs entered the game to relieve Bierman. Stobbs pitched two innings of no-hit baseball, struck out one Moc, and sealed the victory for the Spartans.
Despite Tampa taking the early lead, Florida Southern outscored UT in the second contest by a 3-1 margin.
The Spartans' lone run came in the bottom of the first inning after a RBI by senior Andrew Jones plated centerfielder Connor Obrochta. Tampa failed to produce any more runs during the remaining six innings.
A three-run inning by the Mocs in the fifth gave Florida Southern a two-run lead over the Spartans, which they would successfully hold on to for the win.
Junior RHP Ben Brown started for Tampa. In 4.1 innings pitched, Brown allowed four hits, one earned run, and struck out two Mocs. Sophomore Preston Packrall threw the remaining 2.2 innings. Packrall gave up five hits and two earned runs to FSC. Packrall was later tabbed with the loss, his second.
Junior Anthony Caronia batted .500 on the day with three hits, including one double and two RBI while both Rowland and B.J. Zimmerman went two-for-five in the doubleheader. Jones ended the day with two runs batted in. Tampa collected 14 hits total during the twin bill, 11 in the first game compared to just three in the second.
The Spartans return to their home field on Tuesday night to play NAIA Embry Riddle University at 5 p.m. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.
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.