Spartans Conquer Trojans in Top-5 Battle

Box score

AIKEN, S.C. - Thanks to a 16 hit assault, the top ranked University of Tampa baseball team defeated the No. 5 University of Mount Olive 12-9 in the opening game of the Prestige Appliance Classic hosted by USC-Aiken.

The Spartans improve to 4-0 on the season while the Trojans suffer their first loss with a 3-1 record.

Senior Connor Obrochta and junior Nick Tindall led the offense for Tampa, as Obrochta tallied a 4-for-6 performance with three runs and a RBI. Catcher Tindall roped a two RBI homer en route to a 3-for-4 showing while senior Tyler Ding tallied three hits and three RBI in the victory. Designated hitter Sean O'Brien hit a solo home run to left field in the second inning of play.

Tampa jumped on the board early, scoring an unearned run in the premier frame of play. The Trojans mirrored with their own unearned run thanks to a RBI single from firstbaseman Rob Shipman.

The Spartans scored a barrage of runs in the second as senior duo Obrochta and Ding began their onslaught with two outs in the inning. Tampa would score six runs as Tindall and O'Brien each launched a home run during the attack after Ding doubled home a pair of batters. Senior Michael Danner picked up a RBI single in the frame as Tampa led 7-1 in the second.

Mount Olive shrunk the Spartan lead in the bottom of the third, as the Trojans plated four of the deficit and pull the game to 7-5 in Tampa's favor.

Firstbasemen Ding singled to lead off the fourth inning. The senior then stole second to get into scoring position for Tindall who padded the lead with a RBI base-hit, his third run of the game. Tampa held an 8-5 advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Spartans continued to wreak havoc on Trojan pitching as Obrochta notched a RBI single and scored off a triple by Orlando Rivera. UT owned a five-run lead over Mount Olive after five complete innings. The Trojans could not keep Obrochta and Ding off the base paths as the latter plated Obrochta with a base hit in the sixth.

Trojans infielder DeAndre Allen hit a two-bagger in the eighth to score a late inning run. A frame later, Shipman blasted a three-run homer to force a save situation. Reliever Brett Jones would strikeout the final two batters to earn his second save of the season in the 12-9 win.

Starting pitcher Trey Oest (2-0) picked up his second win of the season, tossing six complete innings allowing four earned runs and striking out six.

Trojans starter Alex Regan (1-1) was the pitcher of record, as the hurler surrendered 10 runs, 9 earned in 4+ innings of work.

Tampa will face another ranked opponent in host and No. 14 USC-Aiken, Saturday at 3 p.m. on day two of the Prestige Appliance Classic. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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