Doubleheader Barn-Burner ends in Tampa Sweeping

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans sweep the Saturday Doubleheader between Rollins to take the series.

Game One Final: #1 Tampa Spartans 5, Rollins Tars 4

Game Two Final: #1 Tampa Spartans 7, Rollins Tars 4

Records: Tampa (31-4, 12-3 SSC), Rollins (18-14, 10-8 SSC)

Location: Alfond Stadium | Winter Park, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Spartans improve to 128-61 against the Tars.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a Jake Griffith single followed by a walk from Stephen Klein, the Spartans were in business with two men on a one-out in the First. Anthony Nunez singled to left center to bring home Griffith for the game's first run. Top 1 | 1-0 Tampa
• Danny Gutcher and E.J. Cumbo hit back-to-back singles with two outs to put two Spartans at the corners. Griffith delivered driving in Gutcher with a single to right field. Top 2 | 2-0 Tampa
• Cumbo decided to play long ball with a leadoff bomb to right field. Top 5 | 3-0 Tampa
• After a Rollins error to put the Spartans in business with first and third, Cumbo delivered again, with a single to right field to bring home Brayden Woodburn and Gutcher on a throwing error by the Rollins second basemen. Top 6 | 5-2 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Cumbo: 3-5, 2 RBI's, & 2 R's.
• Griffith: 2-4, BB, RBI, & R.
• Gutcher: 2-4 & 2 R's.
• Klein: 2-4 & BB.

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez improved to 9-0 on the season. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs while striking out 1.
• Eli Thurmond relieved Gonzalez. He threw 3.1 innings while striking out 3 batters and not allowing a run.
• Andrew Carson relieved Thurmond. He picked up his second save of the season by striking out the game's final batter.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After Nunez singled to lead off the inning, Nunez would come around to score on a Macallister Jorgensen groundout. Top 2 | 1-0 Tampa
• Down three, nobody on, and one more out; the game is over; the Spartans came back. Maddox King would walk, Cumbo had a bunt single, Gutcher singled to bring in King, Klein was hit with a pitch, and then Nunez singled to right field to bring in Ray Mercer, who pinch ran for Gutcher, and Cumbo to tie the game up at four a piece, Top 9 | 4-4 Tie
• After two extra innings of free baseball, no runs crossed the plate. Then after a Woodburn single, and Woodburn stealing second, Nico Saladino would be intentionally walked. Santiago Garavito would come to the plate and hit his 7^th homerun on the season to give the Spartans a three-run lead. Top 12 | 7-4 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Garavito: 3-6 (3-Run 12^th inning HR), 3 RBI's, & R.
• Nunez: 2-6, 2 RBI's, & R.
• King: 2-4, BB, & R.
• Woodburn: 2-6 & R.
• Valdez: 2-5 & BB.
• Klein: 2-5

ON THE MOUND:

• Jake Stipp started on the mound and ended with his 6^th no-decision. He pitched 6 innings striking out 1 while giving up 2 runs.
• Ashton Pocol relieved Stipp. He pitched 1.1 innings striking out 1 while giving up 2 runs.
• J.P. Gates relieved Pocol. He pitched 0.2 innings and did not allow a run.
• Andrew Carson relieved Gates. He pitched 4 innings and picked up his second win of the season, improving to 2-1. He did not allow any runs and struck out 1.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will return home next weekend as they host a series against Florida Tech starting on Friday, April 12^th, at 6:00 PM.