Long Ball Propels Tampa over Barry

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa opened up Sunshine State Conference play at the UT Baseball Field Friday night, as they welcomed in Barry University. The two teams battled throughout the night, as the Spartans edged the Buccaneers to take the opening game of the series 3-2. 

Christopher Williams came in relief to earn the victory for UT and Lance Elder was dealt the loss for BU. Tampa improves to 9-1 on the year and 1-0 in SSC play. Barry sits at 9-4 and 2-2 in the conference. 

The Bucs and the Spartans were locked in a pitchers duel through five innings before Barry was able to get on the board in the top half of the sixth. Carlos Matamoros was able to score the first run of the game, as he came across on a wild pitch. Alexander DeGoti would score the second run of the inning as he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jonathan Quintana

The Spartans would post two runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Cody deNoyelles was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half of the frame. Danny Lee followed deNoyelles with a two-run home run to right center field to tie the game back at two. 

BU would quickly respond in the top of the seventh inning as they had runners on second and third with nobody out. After Williams struck out a Barry batter for the first out of the inning, the Spartans would load the bases after intentionally walking Matamoros. Williams would get out of the jam, after getting Khalil Denson to ground into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. 

Casey Scoggins would continue the Tampa momentum as he took the first pitch of the seventh inning over the right center field fence to give the Spartans its first lead of the game at 3-2.

Williams would cruise through the final two innings as no batter would reach base, as he earned the Friday night win.  As a team, Tampa recorded six hits, with Lee and Matt Piatt recording two apiece. 

Michael Calkins earned the start for the Spartans, as the senior lefty went 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine Buccaneer batters. 

Tampa will be back in action tomorrow to finish out the three-game series with Barry. The two teams will play in a doubleheader with the first game beginning at 1:00 pm. 

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