Spartans Take Home Opener Over Georgia Southwestern

TAMPA, Fla. – The top-ranked University of Tampa baseball earned its third win of the year against the Georgia Southwestern University Hurricanes.

Final: No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans (8), Georgia Southwestern University Hurricanes (2)

Records: Tampa (3-1), Georgia Southwestern (1-3) 

Location: UT Baseball Field || Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: After the inaugural game, Tampa takes the lead 1-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

In the top of the first, Haden Erbe walked the first two batters of the game, followed by a hit by pitch to load the bases. He then struck out the next three batters to end the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, E.J. Cumbo led the Spartans off with a triple off the center-field fence. Drew Ehrhard then drove in Cumbo with a sacrifice fly to right field | 1-0 Tampa. In the bottom third, Jose Cadenas led off the Spartans with a single to right-center. Cumbo ropes one to right to score to Cadenas. That sparks another two runs | 4-0 Tampa. In the top of the fourth, Erbe lets up a deep fly ball to left field. Jordan Lala reached over the wall and took one back to keep it to only one run scored | 4-1 Tampa. In the bottom of the fourth, Colby Gordon replaced Donalson at pitcher. In the top of the fifth, Braydon Nelson relieved Erbe after four solid innings. | 4-1 Tampa. In the top of the seventh, Reid Ragsdale drove in Miles Hartsfield on a single to center. | 4-2 Tampa. In the bottom of the seventh, E.J. Cumbo singled to right which scored Jordan Lala. Jamarcus Lyons then doubled to deep center field, scoring Ehrhard and Cumbo. | 7-2 Tampa. In the bottom of the eighth, Aaron Wainright came in for relief of Gordon. After a walk to J.D. Urso, Carsen Plumadore replaced Wainright on the mound. Jordan Lala singled on a sharp line drive to left field, scoring Urso. | 8-2 Tampa. In the top of the ninth, Michael D'Emo came in to close it out, in replace of Nelson | Final: 8-2 Tampa.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Lyons knocked in three RBI.
• Erbe earns his second win of the year with eight strikeouts.
• Cumbo collected three hits and three runs scored.

UP NEXT: Tampa's series with Georgia Southwestern will conclude tomorrow, February 12^th with a double-header beginning at 1:00 p.m. 

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