Top-Ranked Spartans Set for Midweek South Region Battle

TAMPA, Fla. – Coming in at number one in the nation in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, the University of Tampa baseball team will welcome Valdosta State University for a mid-week game between NCAA South Region opponents.

The Matchup: No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans vs. Valdosta State University Blazers

Date/Time: Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Location: University of Tampa Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla. | Directions

About the Spartans: Tampa enters the contest with a 20-5 overall record, and 6-3 Sunshine State Conference showing. Head coach Joe Urso's squad is riding a season-best 10-game winning streak and coming off an SSC road sweep at St. Leo. Junior Alec Aleywine was tabbed the SSC Player of the Week for his play last week as the slugger was 7-for-12 at the plate with nine runs batted in, four runs scored, two home runs, and four walks. The Panama City, Fla., native's top game of the week came in the second game against Saint Leo where he went 3-for-4 with seven runs batted in and two home runs. The first baseman slashed .583/.688/1.250 and had a hit in all four games this week. UT slugged grand slams in back-to-back games as senior Nick DeTringo connected on a grand slam in Friday's opener. Junior outfielder Yorvis Torrealba leads a Spartan offense that averages 9.2 runs per game. Torrealba is hitting .418 on the season with four home runs and 22 RBI. He also boasts an on-base clip of .500.

About the Blazers: Head coach Greg Guilliams squad sits at 13-13 on the season as the Gulf South Conference members are 4-7 in league play. VSU is 3-2 against SSC opponents in 2019, sweeping three from Embry-Riddle and falling to Florida Tech and St. Leo. The Blazers have lost five straight and are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the University of West Florida. Valdosta is hitting .281 as a team this season, though they have only hit four home runs in 26 games. Logan Stephens leads VSU with a .375 average as one of four starters on the team hitting over .300. VSU's pitching staff enters with a 3.81 team ERA.

Series History: The series between the region opponents dates back to 1986, with Tampa holding a 33-21 lead in the all-time series. The teams last met in the 2017 NCAA South Regional as UT claimed a 14-5 victory after falling to the Blazers in regular season play that year. Valdosta State brings a two-game road winning streak over the Spartans and has won six of the last 10 meetings.

Tickets: Tickets for are $5 for adults, senior citizens, and coaches. Children under 12 will be admitted free. UT students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with a valid student ID.

Game Coverage: Fans may watch live at TampaSpartans.tv. Live stats are also available through TampaStats.com.

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