No. 2 Spartans Knock Off Mocs With Late-Game Heroics

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 22 University of Tampa baseball team prevailed in a comeback extra-inning victory at Sunshine State Conference rival and No. 17 Florida Southern College.

Final Score:  No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans 5, No. 17 Florida Southern College Moccasins 4

Records: Tampa (18-4, 7-0 SSC), Florida Southern (16-6, 3-1 SSC) 

Location: Henley Field || Lakeland, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Tampa now holds a 113-109 edge in the all-time series.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After three scoreless innings, Tampa grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth when E.J. Cumbo  scored Santiago Garavito on a single. | 1-0 Spartans
• The Mocs responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, coming on a 2-run home run. | 2-1 Moccasins
• Florida Southern added to its lead with a sixth inning run. | 3-1 Moccasins
• Tampa drew even in the seventh, with Jordan Lala scoring on a double off the bat of Drew Ehrhard. The next Spartan run came when Garavito was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Lala to cross the plate. | 3-3 tie
• FSC quickly responded, taking a 4-3 lead in the bottom oif the seventh on an RBI base hit. | 4-3 Moccasins
• Garavito drove in the game-tying run in the top of the ninth, with pinch runner Jose Cadenas keeping the Spartans hopes alive with the run. | 4-4 tie
• A two-out single off the bat of J.D. Urso gave the Spartans the lead, with Macallister Jorgensen scoring the go-ahead run. Jorgensen was running for Adam Hunt, who reached base on a pinch-hit single | Final: 5-4 Spartans

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Michael Paul started for Tampa, throwing 6.0 innings in a no decision. He allowed just five hits and three runs while striking out four.
• Braydon Nelson was the winning pitcher, improving to 4-0 on the season as he went 3.1 innings with five strikeouts. Nelson would retire the final four batters he faced.
• Dalton Ross entered in the 10th inning, retirng the final two hitters to earn his second save this season .
• Urso reached base five times, going 2-3 at the plate with three walks. He also drove in the game-winning run.
• Cumbo also had two hits on the night with an RBI.
• Ehrhard was 2-4 with a walk and one RBI.

UP NEXT: The same two teams are back in action on Saturday with a 1 p.m., douibleheader in Lakeland.