Spartans Split with the Tars in Series Finale Doubleheader

TAMPA, Fla.  – Spartans split with the Tars to stay atop of the Sunshine State Conference.

Final Score: No. 7 Rollins College Tars (5), No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans (3)

Final Score – Game 2: No. 2 University of Tampa Spartans (6), No. 7 Rollins College Tars (4) 

Records: Tampa (24-6, 13-2 SSC), Rollins (22-9, 12-3 SSC)

Location: UT Baseball Field || Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Series: The Spartans now have 125 wins against the Tars.

HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 1

• The Tars got out to an early lead, scoring one in the first on a fielder's choice | 1-0 Tars.
• J.D. Urso knotted up the game back up in the bottom half with a double to right center | 1-1 Tied.
• Torres hit his second homer of the year to left in the third | 2-1 Tars.
• In the fifth, Luis Rodriguez had a sacrifice fly to center that scored Anthony Nunez and tied the game once more | 2-2 Tied.
• The Tars broke the game open with a three-run sixth, including a Smith two-run homerun | 5-2 Tars.
• The Spartans would try and put something together late in the ninth with a RBI by Danny Gutcher. A double play with the bases loaded would end the Spartans' hopes | Final: 5-3 Tars.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Eli Thurmond suffers his first loss on the 2023 campaign.
• Jordan Lala went 2-3, with 1 run and a walk.
• Urso hit his 16^th double on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 2

• The Tars jumped out early like they did in the first game of the doubleheader, with a RBI double to left | 1-0 Tars.
• Drew Ehrhard went yard, making it back-to-back nights that also scored Lala in the first | 2-1 Spartans.
• A sac fly from Urso in the second scored Nico Saladino which extended their lead to two | 3-1 Spartans.
• Herring for the Tars doubled to left center in the fourth that put one across and cut the Spartan lead | 3-2 Spartans.
• E.J. Cumbo hit a sac fly to center that brought home Ehrhard | 4-2 Spartans.
• In the sixth, the Spartans put two across with a couple of RBI singles | 6-2 Spartans.
• A homer and a double by the Tars in the seventh put them within two of the Spartans | 6-4 Spartans.
• Paul Sullivan leaves two Tars players stranded in scoring position in the ninth and secures the save | FINAL: 6-4 Spartans.

INSIDE THE STATS: GAME 2

• Alex Canney gets his 3^rd win of the season going 5 IP, 6 K's, and 2 ER.
• Sullivan went 3 IP, with 6 K's and get his second save.
• Cumbo went 2-4 with 2 RBI.
• Urso went 3-4, with 1 run and an RBI.

UP NEXT: Tampa heads to No. 27 Valdosta State on Tuesday for a rematch from earlier in the season. The start time is set for 5 p.m.