Tampa Extends Streak with Sweep of Barry
TAMPA, Fla. - Extending its win streak to 21 consecutive games, the No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team completed the sweep of Barry University by taking the doubleheader with scores of 13-6 and 7-3 respectively.
The Spartans improve to a staggering 28-1 on the season with a pristine 9-0 Sunshine State Conference mark while the visiting Buccaneers dip to 17-11 with a 1-8 conference tally.
UT ravaged Barry in the first game, winning with a 13-6 final score and continued its momentum into the nightcap, ending the series with a 7-3 win.
Infield tandem Giovanny Alfonzo and Orlando Rivera ended the day with four hits apiece, Alfonzo posted five RBI while Rivera picked up five runs.
The top ranked offense exploded for 21 hits in the first game, as seven batters recorded multiple hits. Seniors Tyler Ding and Zach Gawrych led the charge as Ding hit a perfect 3-for-3 with a run while Gawrych blasted a two-run homer and collected three RBI in the first game.
Last night's hero, Alfonza tallied two each of hits, runs and RBI as fellow middle infielder Rivera mirrored with two hits and two runs. Pinch-hitter Quinn Pippin scored a pair of runs with his two base-hits for the game.
Bucs outfielder Sheehan Planas notched a pair of hits and two late-inning RBI while second baseman Luis Rios-Reyes matched with two hits and a RBI.
Starter David Heintz (5-0) tossed six shutout innings to begin the game, striking out four batters to shrink his ERA to 2.01 on the season. Barry starter Joe Iorio (1-2) was chased early after allowing five runs in two innings. The Buccaneers' bullpen could not halt the Spartan attack, giving up eight runs across the final seven innings as Tampa ended with a 13-6 win.
Barry began the second game of the twin-bill with a run in each of the first three frames, giving the Bucs a 3-1 lead.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth inning behind a strong outing from Michael Calkins (4-0) who threw two and a third innings of relief, allowing a single hit.
Right-hander Kevin McNorton tossed the final five outs to earn his fifth save of the season and close the books on the Barry series.
UT will welcome Flagler in a Tuesday night contest, slated for a 6 p.m. start time. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
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