Klein's Game Winner was the Difference

TAMPA, Fla. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans take the first of three over the Panthers.

Final: #1 Tampa Spartans 6, Florida Tech Panthers 4

Records: Tampa (32-4, 13-3 SSC), Florida Tech (16-21, 8-11 SSC)

Location: UT Baseball Stadium | Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Spartans improve to 130-35 over the Panthers and are winners of 10 straight over them.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• To lead off the inning, Anthony Nunez worked the count to 3-2 before hitting his third home run of the year over the left field to give the Spartans an early lead. Bot 2 | 1-0 Tampa
• The bases became juiced for the Spartans after Stephen Klein singled, Nunez singled, and Santiago Garavito walked. Danny Gutcher tried to sneak one past the first basemen, who made a diving stop but could only get a force out at second base to bring home Klein. Macallister Jorgensen then came to the plate and fisted a double down the right-field line to bring home Nunez. Bot 4 | 3-0 Tampa
• The game became tied 3-3. With two outs, Brayden Woodburn roped a single backup in the middle, and then Klein followed with a towering home run to the right center. Bot 7 | 5-3 Tampa
• With first and third, up one, and one out, Nico Saladino stepped in the box with his first plate appearance of the game to try to give the Spartans some insurance. Saladino did just that, lining a single to left field to bring home Nunez to put the Spartans up two runs. Bot 8 | 6-4 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Nunez: 3-4, RBI, & 3 R's.
• Klein: 2-3, BB, 2 RBI's, & 2 R's.

ON THE MOUND:

• Alex Canney started on the mound. He pitched 6 strong innings. Despite giving up 8 hits he worked his way out of trouble and gave up 1 runs while striking out 4.
• Eli Thurmond relieved Canney. He improved to 2-0 on the season. He pitched 2 innings giving up 2 runs while striking out 4.
• Andrew Carson relieved Thurmond. He picked up his third save on the season. He pitched a scoreless 9th and struck out 2 batters.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will wrap up the series tomorrow in a day-night doubleheader to conclude their 3-game series. Game one will start at 1:00 PM. Game two is estimated at 4:00 PM