
Spartans Rock Hawks for 14 Runs
TAMPA, Fla. - A series of home runs surged the No. 4 University of Tampa baseball team to a 14-4 victory over Rockhurst University. The Spartans improve to 12-2 on their season while the Hawks drop to 1-2.
Pinch hitter Ryan Lowery sent a two-run homer over the left field fence in his only at bat while a trio of juniors in Zach Gawrych, Connor Obrochta and Zach Alvord each notched a solo home run in the contest. The Tampa offense totaled 14 hits as four players had multiple base-knocks on the game.
Outfielder Gawrych launched his solo home run to left field to start off the Spartan scoring attack. Tampa collected three runs in the first frame as Jake Schrader and Tyler Ding each tallied a RBI in addition to the homer.
Tampa continued to pad its lead in the third, as the Spartans scored four runs to increase the margin to 8-0.
Rockhurst plated a trio of runs during the top of the sixth, their first runs of the game to decrease the deficit 8-3 in favor of Tampa.
Junior Alvord launched his towering solo shot to left to lead off the seventh inning. Obrochta and Lowery hit their home runs in the following inning to end the Spartan attack at 14 runs.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Abramson earned the win, pitching four innings of two-hit baseball. The senior struck out three and did not allow a run to his credit. Hawks starter Joey Greco was tabbed with the loss after allowing seven runs in two-plus innings of work.
Tampa will face Cedarville Wednesday at the University of Tampa Baseball Field, game time set for a 6 p.m. start. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instragram (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.