Clutch Hitting, Strong Relief Pitching Powers No. 3 Tampa Over Maryville

TAMPA, Fla. – Clutch hitting and a strong collective outing from the bullpen powered the No. 3 University of Tampa Spartans to a 10-2 win against the Maryville University Saints. 

Final:  No. 3 Tampa Spartans 10, Maryville Saints 2

Records: Tampa (5-2), Maryville (0-1) 

Location: UT Baseball Field || Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Tampa leads the series 1-0 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Tampa jumped out to an early lead thanks to a sizeable two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning. After a walk to J.D. Urso, Anthony Nunez continued his hot start to the season with an RBI double over the right fielder's head. The Spartans continued their power surge with back-to-back home runs by Santiago Garavito and E.J. Doskow in the next two at-bats. | 4-0 Spartans
• Tampa added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, once again with two outs in the frame. Jordan Lala singled to center and advanced all the way to third when the center fielder misplayed the ball. Drew Ehrhard followed with a sharp line-drive double down the left field line to bring in the run. | 5-0 Spartans
• Maryville made a dent in the Spartans' lead in the top of the fifth inning. A pair of singles by Michael Long and Matt Schuler started things off for the Saints, where productive outs were then able to produce a run. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, where Jack Zebig followed up with a sacrifice fly to end the shutout. Maryville put across another run on a Michael Gould RBI double. | 5-2 Spartans
• Tampa poured on insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as some rain started to fall. The Spartans recorded six hits in the inning and plated five runs, starting with a Lala RBI single. Ehrhard kept the line moving with his second run-scoring double of the night. Urso followed up with a two-RBI triple to right center field, and Doskow capped off the scoring with a bloop RBI single to right field that scored Urso. | 10-2 Spartans
• The Tampa bullpen combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings pitched, allowing just two hits. Eric Linder entered for the final frame and sealed the win. | Final: 10-2 Spartans

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Nunez went 4-5 with 2 doubles and 1 RBI
• Doskow went 3-5 with 1 homer and 2 RBI
• Lala went 3-5 with 1 RBI
• Ehrhard went 2-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI
• Dalton Ross earned the win and tossed 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief
• Tampa hit .500 as a team with two outs

UP NEXT: Tampa will continue its series against Maryville on Saturday, February 18 at 3:00 p.m.