Spartans Shutout Bobcats in Monday Rubber Match

Box score

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 1 ranked University of Tampa baseball team rebounded from its first loss of the season with a convincing 13-0 shutout win over No. 3 Georgia College Monday afternoon. The Spartans take the series and improve to 8-1 on the season while the Bobcats dip to 4-2 entering the week.

Tampa totaled 18 hits in the rout, including home runs from Connor Obrochta, Tyler Ding and Nick Tindall. Seniors Sean O'Brien and Obrochta tallied three hits apiece as the latter picked up four RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Sophomore David Heintz (3-0) took to the mound in the rubber match of the series, going five innings of five-hit baseball, allowing no runs and striking out a single batter en route to the win. The bullpen combined for the final four shutout innings between Preston Packrall and Kevin McNorton. The duo limited the Bobcats to a pair of hits and a walk to hold GC scoreless.

The Bobcats allowed a bases-loaded walk to give the Spartans their first run of the inning. Tampa scored three runs in the frame as senior Obrochta roped a single through the left side of the infield, allowing a pair of runs to cross the plate.

Center fielder Obrochta struck again for another run, scoring O'Brien with an infield single. Designated hitter Ding would then blast his two-run shot over the centerfield fence to push Tampa to a 6-0 lead after four innings.

Right fielder Stephen Dezzi doubled in the fifth inning, moving to third on a wild pitch. O'Brien notched a two-bagger to score Dezzi and continue to pad the Spartan lead.

UT blasted another pair of home runs as Obrochta continued to cause problems for the GC pitching staff. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native hit a solo shot in the sixth inning, good for his fourth RBI of the game. Catcher Tindall launched his own homer, scoring two runs and continuing to push the game from the reach at a towering 10-0 deficit.

Georgia College could not stop the bleeding, as Giovanny Alfonzo and Zach Gawrych plated a pair of runs in seventh. Tampa would conclude the contest with a 13-0 shutout.

Bobcats hurler Dallas Draviczki (0-1) was tabbed with the loss in his first start of the season, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing three earned runs.

The Spartans return home for a weekend series against Albany State University with a doubleheader scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21. The first game will begin promptly at 3 p.m. with live stats as well as a live video webcast available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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