Michael Paul Dazzles as Tampa Takes Game Over SSC Rival

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 2 ranked University of Tampa Spartans baseball team hosted longtime Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Southern College, coming out on top in the series opener.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: #2 University of Tampa Spartans 6, Florida Southern College Moccasins 1
Records: Tampa 16-2 (15-1 SSC), Florida Southern (11-9, 10-8 SSC)
Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series:  Tampa holds a 106-105 lead in the all-time series, and have now won four straight over the Mocs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Luke McDonald crushed an RBI double to the fence following a leadoff single by Jamarcus Lyons in the fourth. McDonald would later score on a Nick Derr sacrifice fly. Bottom 4 | 2-0 Tampa
• The first Moccasin hit of the game was a solo home run by Zach Scott to leadoff the fifth. Top 5 | 2-1 Tampa
• The Spartans crossed four in the seventh, all coming with two outs. John Malcom singled home Nicholas Winkelmeyer for the first run. Head coach Joe Urso followed with three-left-handed pinch-hitters, as Dan Sullivan blasted a three-run home run to right-center that also scored Malcom and Luke Glancy. Bottom 7 | 6-1 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Starting pitcher Michael Paul turned in another dominating effort, tossing 6.1 innings of one-hit baseball. He finished with a career-high 13 strikeouts while improving to 7-0 on the season.
• Dan Sullivan slugged a three-run home run in his lone at-bat of the game. The homer was the first of the season for Sullivan.
• Winkelmeyer and Lyons each had a pair of hits. Winkelmeyer reached base three times as he also drew a walk.
• Jose Cadenas and Sam Freitas both reached base twice, registering a hit and walk apiece.
• Jordan Leasure tossed 1.2 innings of relief, notching two strikeouts.
• Leasure remained in the game as Dalton Ross pitched a scoreless ninth. In his first appearance in the field as a non-pitcher, Leasure played second base and was credited with an assist in a 6-4-3 double play.

UP NEXT: Tampa and Florida Southern will meet in Lakeland for a Saturday doubleheader. Game time is 2 p.m.

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