Spartans Season Ends in Doubleheader Split With Central Missouri

CARY, N.C. –  The No. 5 seed University of Tampa Spartans baseball team split a doubleheader with the Division II Championship Series No. 1 seed Central Missouri. Tampa won the first game, keeping their national championship title defense going but fell short in the second which ended their season. 

Game One Final: No. 5 Tampa 8, No. 1 Central Missouri 1

Game Two Final: No. 1 Central Missouri 3, No. 5 Tampa 1

Records: Tampa (23-6), Central Missouri (46-7)

Location: USA Baseball National Training Complex | Cary, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME ONE:

• The Mules took an early top of the first inning lead, scoring on a wild pitch. | 1-0 UCM
• The game was quiet until the bottom of the sixth inning. The Spartans reeled off eight unanswered runs to close the game. Jamarcus Lyons doubled to left center, bringing in Drew Ehrhard to tie the game. | 1-1 Tied
• Ehrhard blasted a single to right center field in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Christian Flint and giving Tampa the lead for good. | 2-1 Tampa
• Luke Glancy also added a run in the bottom of the seventh, hitting a single to left center to score E.J. Cumbo. | 3-1 Tampa
• The Spartans exploded in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five runs in the frame. Flint hit a single, scoring J.D. Urso unearned (4-1); Luke McDonald scored on a wild pitch, unearned (5-1); Cumbo smashed a single to left field, scoring Flint unearned (6-1); Cumbo scored on a wild pitch (7-1); and, lastly, Glancy knocked a center field single that brought home Ehrhard (8-1). | Final: 8-1 Tampa

HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME TWO:

• The Mules were on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame in what turned out a low scoring affair. | 1-0 UCM
• J.D. Urso scored the Spartans only run in this one from a Jose Cadenas sac-fly in the top of the second. | 1-1 Tied
• Central Missouri added two runs in the bottom of the second and fifth innings. | Final: 3-1 UCM

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME ONE:

• E.J. Cumbo went 3-for-5 at the dish with an RBI.
• Jamarcus Lyons enjoyed a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI-double and a walk.
• Luke Glancy, the designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with two RBI and no strikeouts.
• Drew Ehrhard continued his strong tournament, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI and no strikeouts.
• Jordan Leasure notched his fourth win of the year, striking out a batter in relief across two innings.

INSIDE THE STATS — GAME TWO:

• J.D. Urso hit 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Jose Cadenas was responsible for Tampa's only run, scoring J.D. Urso with a sac-fly.
• Braydon Nelson stuck out eight batters in relief in 6.1 IP.

UP NEXT: This concludes the Spartans baseball season. 

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