PBA Takes Series Opener From Spartans

Box score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The No. 2 University of Tampa (19-6) baseball team dropped its series opener by a 5-2 mark against Palm Beach Atlantic University (15-7) on Friday at Rubin Field.

Tampa, who struck out nine times in the first five innings, alsoheld the Sailfish scoreless until the fifth when PBA's offense erupted four four runs in the bottom of the fifth. In that inning, PBA batted around while collecting a pair of walks and three hits.

The Spartans answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Following a leadoff hitby pitch by Giovanny Alfonzo, Stephen Dezzi then reached on a dropped fly ball by the Sailfish right fielder. Ian Townsend would later drive in Alfonzo as Dezzi would ultimately score on a Cody deNoyelles sacrifice fly.

Palm Beach Atlantic added another in the bottom of the seventh to extend its lead to 5-2. Sailfish starting pitcher Josh Turner started and threw 127 pitches while striking out a season-high 10 batters. He allowed 7 hits and one earned run in 7.2 innings of work.

David Heintz (3-2) started for the Spartans and threw 5.0 innings, giving up six hits and four runs while striking out three. Jake Mielock provided 3.0 innings of relief, giving up two hits while striking out three Sailfish.

Offensively for Tampa, Nick Flair and Brett Jones each had a pair of hits. Jones would reach base three times as he registered a single, double and walk on the night.

The same two teams will be back in action on Saturday in a noon doubleheader. Fans may follow live stats through Tampa.Statbroadcast.com or watch through PBA's broadcast at http://backlighttv.com/palm-beach-baseball/.

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