No. 1 Tampa Has Prescription For Eckerd in Game One

Box score

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The top-ranked University of Tampa (37-2, 12-1 SSC) baseball team opened a three-game Sunshine State Conference series at Eckerd College (21-14, 8-8 SSC) with a 9-1 victory in a game at the Turley Athletic Complex.

After a scoreless first inning, the Spartans got on the board in the second courtesy of a bases-loaded double by junior Giovanny Alfonzo. Orlando Rivera then made it 3-0 in favor of the visiting Spartans on an RBI groundout.

Tampa would then load the bases to begin the fourth inning with zero outs, as Eckerd starter Richard Cruz-Sanchez would escape after a strikeout, fielder's choice at the plate and fly out to right field.

The Spartans would extend their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth when Michael Danner connected on a solo home run that he pulled over the right field fence.

Eckerd would trim the Spartan lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth as the run was unearned for Tampa starter David Heintz. With one out and runners on first and second, Heintz would register a strikeout, though the batter reached on a wild pitch. The first Triton run would score via a throwing error on the play.

Tampa would chase the Triton starter in the sixth after Giovanny Alfonzo and Orlando Rivera lead off the inning with a pair of singles. After both Spartans stole a base, Alfonzo would score the first UT run of the inning on a wild pitch. Rivera would then score on a groundout, making the score 6-1 in favor of UT.

Eckerd would threaten in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners on second and third with no outs. After a groundout that kept the runners at their bases, Heintz would exit for southpaw Michael Calkins. The sophomore would escape any damage with a strikeout and fly to left field.

Heintz (7-0) would end the night with 5.1 innings of work, allowing six hits and one unearned run. He also notched four strikeouts with no walks.

Rivera would do his part to give the Spartans another run in the eighth. The speedy second baseman reached on an infield hit, and then stole second base. After advancing to third on a balk, Stephen Dezzi drove him home on a sacrifice fly, making it 7-1.

Quinn Pippin connected on a two-run home run that was launched to right field. He scored Michael Danner on the play, who led off the ninth inning with a base hit.

Calkins enjoyed another stellar effort in relief, as the sophomore threw 2.2 perfect innings. He finished with four strikeouts. Marcus Crescentini entered for the ninth inning, striking out one Triton.

Offensively, Rivera, Danner and Alfonzo each had three hits as Danner scored three runs. Pippin and Alfonzo each drove in a pair of runs to lead the Spartans.

The teams will commence the series with a Saturday twin-bill, beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available through Tampa.StatBroadcast.com. A webcast is available through EckerdTritons.com.

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