Tampa Sweeps Rematch of Championship Game
Spartans offense carries the team in the sweep.
TAMPA, Fla.- The No. 6 University of Tampa baseball team used an offensive onslaught to finish the series sweep over the No. 23 Catawba College Indians. UT took game one by a final of 11-7, and game two 15-10. With the doubleheader sweep, the Spartans move to 28-6 on the season, while the Indians drop to 24-15. The victory also marks the sixth straight victory for Tampa.
In game one, after the two teams were held scoreless through four innings, Catawba started the scoring after they put up four runs in the top half of the fifth inning. Tampa would respond in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs of their own. Vincent Minet would score the first run of the inning as he scored after Casey Scoggins hit into a double play. Danny Lee followed with a single to plate Adrian Chacon. Lee scored after J.D. Osborne tripled over the head of the right fielder. UT concluded its scoring in the inning when Osborne scored on a Laz Rivera double.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Tampa added another three runs, when Scoggins homered deep to right field. They would then tack on another two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring on a Ricky Negron sacrifice fly and Cody deNoyelles scored on a wild pitch.
Kevin Martin earned the start for the Spartans going five innings in the game. He would add four strikeouts in the outing. Conner Andrews earned the victory in relief as the senior righty went 3.1 innings allowing two earned runs. The victory moved his record to 4-0 on the year. Martin earned his second save of the year after throwing recording the final two outs.
In game two, the teams were locked in a home run derby as each team blasted five home runs in the contest.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Spartans used the long ball to score six runs in the inning. Lee hit a three-run shot to right field to bring around Scoggins and Chacon. UT would then go back-to-back as Osborne followed Lee with a home run of his own. Rivera followed Osborne with a single and scored after Cosenzo hit his second home run of the game to right centerfield.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with one out, Matt Piatt drove a ball to straight away center for a Grand Slam that gave the Spartans a 14-4 advantage over the Indians. Catawba would not give in as they added six more runs in the game to end the game 15-10.
Piatt drove in five RBI in the game to lead Tampa, while Chacon and Cosenzo led the team with three hits.
Brad Hencke earned the victory on the night as the lefty went 6.0 innings allowing four runs. He now sits at 5-1 on the season. Trey Oest made his return to the mound for Tampa, as he went an inning allowing no hits.
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