Spartans Overcome Warriors

Box score

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team pulled out a close one, beating Wayne State University (Mich.) 6-5. The Spartans improve to 16-3 on the season, while the Warriors fall to 3-5.

Wayne State kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs off of two hits. Tampa soon answered back in the top of the fourth. After a Drew Doty walk, Zach Alvord came through with a shot over the center fielders head, resulting in a triple and scoring Doty. Sean O'Brien followed with a single through the left side scoring Alvord, tying up the ballgame.

After falling behind again, the Spartans would come to take the lead for the first time in the top of the seventh inning. Connor Obrochta would lead things off with a triple in the gap. Doty would walk on four straight pitches, which was immediately followed by a Tyler Ding fly ball that would drop in for an RBI single. Up next was Alvord who knocked in another run with a double to left field. Ding added another one more scoring on a wild pitch.

The eventual deciding run would come from a line drive base hit by Zach Gawrych, scoring catcher Adam Pendleton from second.

Brad Hencke would receive the win for the Spartans, pitching four innings in relief for starter Aaron Gerbasi, earning his first win of the year. Caleb Kellogg got his third save of the season with two solid innings to close, striking out three Wayne State hitters in the ninth.

Tampa is back at it Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Upper Iowa University. Live stats and a video broadcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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