Tampa Stuns Barry with Walk-Off Win

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - Thanks to a ninth inning walk-off RBI single from Giovanny Alfonzo, the No. 1 ranked University of Tampa baseball team defeated Barry University by a 3-2 final score. The Spartans maintain their perfect Sunshine State Conference record at 7-0, 26-1 overall while the Buccaneers dip to 17-9 and 1-6 in conference play.

Barry was in control for most of the contest, as a three-hit, seven inning gem from Adrian Benitez kept Tampa from scoring. Buccaneers shortstop JC Cardenas blasted a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to end the scoring drought and give Barry a 2-0 lead.

With two outs and the tying run at second, Michael Danner laced a single through right side to score a pair of runs and knot the contest at 2-2.

Catcher Nick Tindall led off the ninth with a double to leftfield. Junior Brett Jones entered as a pinch-runner, swiping third base to put the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Sure-handed Alfonzo belted a single over to right field, ending the game in walk-off fashion.

Freshman Logan LaPace (1-0) earned the win, tossing three innings of one-hit baseball. The right-hander ended with four strikeouts to a single walk in relief of starting pitcher Trey Oest. Sophomore Oest threw a strong six innings, the only blemish being the two run homer in the fifth.

Buccaneers senior Calvin Rayburn (1-1) was the pitcher of credit, surrendering the final run of the game in his two-thirds of inning.

The Spartans will conclude their series with Barry in doubleheader fashion Saturday, first game set to begin at 1 p.m. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.

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