Spartans Resume SSC Play With Shutout Over Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball team continued its Sunshine State Conference success with a 9-0 shutout over Eckerd College.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: No. 2 Tampa Spartans 9, Eckerd Tritons 0
Records: Tampa (36-7, 24-1 SSC), Eckerd (22-25, 10-18 SSC)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa holds a commanding 113-40 advantage in the series against longtime SSC opponents. The Spartans have now taken 43 of the last 44 meetings against the Tritons and have now dropped a game at Eckerd since 2003. 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Shortstop Brandon Gali got the scoring started in the second inning when he singled home Harrison Bragg.
• UT would extend its lead to 2-0 in the third when Darren Miller scored on a wild pitch.
• A two-run eighth included an RBI sacrifice fly by Gali, followed by a run by Richie Rivera on a Triton error.
• The Spartans broke the game open in the ninth, plating five runs. Nick DeTringo and Drew Ehrhard each had RBI singles, followed by an RBI double by Miller.
• Starting pitcher David Lebron hurled the first eight innings, holding the Tritons scoreless.

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Miller was 5-for-5 from the plate, driving in three runs. He would also draw a walk as he became the first Spartan to register five hits in a game this season.
• A three-hit effort was recorded by Bragg, who also scored a run.
• Left fielder Stephen Smith was the other Spartan with multiple hits as he had two.
• Gali would finish with two RBI as he reached base via a hit and walk.
• Lebron moved to 9-0 on the season as he went 8.0 shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out nine Eckerd batters.
• Cole Aker entered in the ninth inning, finishing the scoreless frame with a strikeout.

UP NEXT:

Tampa heads to St. Petersburg to face Eckerd on Saturday in a 3 p.m., doubleheader. UT needs just one win to clinch the 2018 SSC championship.

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