Top-Ranked Tampa Defeats No. 3 Saint Leo 12-2 in Series Opener

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans opened its Sunshine State Conference series with fellow frontrunner and No, 3 Saint Leo University with a 12-2 victory in front of a season-record 1,200 fans at the UT Baseball Field. The game also represented alumni day as UT honored members of the 1993 and 2013 national championship teams with several members of each team in attendance.

Final: No. 1 Tampa Spartans 12, No. 3 Saint Leo Lions 2

Records: Tampa (40-5, 21-4 SSC), Saint Leo (37-7, 20-5 SSC)

Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: The Spartans now lead the all-time series 138-47. UT has now won 11 of its last 12 meetings with the Lions at home.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Tampa started strong with three in its first trip to the plate. Stephen Klein and J.P. Gates each had an RBI single as Mike Valdez would drive in the third run of the frame. Bot 1 | 3-1 UT
• After the Lions scored in the second and fifth innings to cut the lead to 3-2, Tampa had a 4-run fifth as Brayden Woodburn started the scoring with an RBI double. Jake Griffith added an RBI single as Anthony Nunez followed with a 2-run single. Bot 5 | 7-2 UT 
• UT added three in the sixth as Woodburn had a 2-run single. Valdez also drove in a run. Bot 6 | 10-2 UT 
• The Spartans extended their lead even more with a sacrifice fly from Maddox King. Gates would then score the game's 12th run on a wild pitch. Bot 7 | 12-2

AT THE PLATE:

• E.J. Cumbo had two hits and scored a run. Cumbo now stands at 364 career hits as he now needs just two hits to tie the NCAA Division II hits record of 366.
• Gates was 5-for-5 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in a run. Three of his five hits were doubles.
• Woodburn had three hits while driving in three runs and scoring another.
• Nunez and Klein also had multiple hits with two apiece.

ON THE MOUND:

• Alex Canney started on the mound and extended his record to 10-2 on the season. In 7.0 innings of work, he allowed just four hits and two runs. He also notched seven strikeouts.
• Jeremy Goins entered in the eighth and tossed two perfect frames with three strikeouts.

UP NEXT: The same two teams will battle on Saturday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader. UT will honors its seniors between games.