![Spartan Offense Overpowers Tritons in Doubleheader Sweep](/images/old/2012base-FMU/Team-G6949.jpg)
Spartan Offense Overpowers Tritons in Doubleheader Sweep
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team won both games of a doubleheader against Eckerd College to sweep the three-game Sunshine State Conference Series. The two wins improve Tampa to 35-8 (15-6 SSC) while causing Eckerd to fall to 15-28 (3-17 SSC).
The Spartans took the first game by an 11-run margin. A total of four Spartans recorded multiple RBI in the contest. Senior Damon Elder led the team with three as Andrew Jones, Anthony Caronia, and Raiko Alfonso each collected two.
Tampa tallied 15 hits total against Eckerd's pitching staff. Alfonso went 3-for-4 with three singles as Elder ended the game 2-for-3 with a triple. Shane Rowland also notched a triple while Caronia hit two singles in his two at-bats.
Jones collected his team-leading thirteenth double of the year.
Senior Sean Bierman recorded his seventh win of the season. The lefty threw six shutout innings, struck out seven Tritons and allowed only four hits. Junior Erik Luksis entered the game to pitch three innings of relief. The southpaw allowed three hits, one earned run, and struck out four Tritons. Luksis was awarded the save, his first.
The Spartans won the game, 12-1, over Eckerd.
The second game marked another strong offensive outing for the Spartan squad. Senior Heath Pritchard went a perfect 4-for-4 in the game with two homeruns, a double, and seven RBI. Sophomore Connor Obrochta was also perfect, going 2-for-2 in the game.
Zach Gawrych finished batting 4-for-5 with a homerun and a double. Alfonso and Caronia also notched one double each in the contest, both going 2-for-3.
Junior Ben Brown started on the mound for Tampa. Brown pitched five shutout innings, allowed only four hits, one walk, and struck out three Tritons. Brown was awarded his sixth win of the season. Senior Aaron Gerbasi pitched two innings of relief, struck out two Tritons and allowed one unearned run.
Tampa defeated Eckerd, 16-1, in the second game.
Tampa collected 20 hits in game two, bringing the Spartans' doubleheader total to 35. UT's pitching staff held the Triton offense to just 12 hits on the day.
The Spartans will return to their home field on Friday for a highly anticipated series against SSC opponent Nova Southeastern University. The first of the three-game series is set to begin at 7 p.m. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.
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