Tampa Baseball Clinches Spot in National Championship Game on Saturday

CARY, N.C. - The University of Tampa Spartans continued their postseason run, securing a spot in Saturday's national championship game against the winner of Friday's matchup between Angelo State University or Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Spartans delivered a decisive 7-2 victory over the Catawba Indians of Catawba College in a highly anticipated matchup at the USA Baseball Complex. With this win, Tampa improved its record to 51-8, while Catawba ended its season at 46-17.

Tampa jumped to an early lead, thanks to a solo home run by E.J. Cumbo in the first inning as the NCAA Division II all-time hits leader has now led off each of the three games in Cary with a hit. Cumbo, who had a stellar performance, went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.

Brayden Woodburn then extended the lead later in the first with a bases-loaded walk, bringing the score to 2-0.

In the third inning, Mike Valdez launched a two-run homer, driving in Santiago Garavito and putting Tampa up 4-0. The home run was hit to the deepest part of the park, hitting the batters eye in straightaway center.

Catawba managed to get on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI single by Cole Hales, making it 4-1.

Cumbo struck again in the bottom of the fourth with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that brought the score to 6-1. Tampa added another run in the fifth inning when Jake Griffith singled in Brayden Woodburn, increasing the lead to 7-1.

Catawba's final run came in the sixth inning, again courtesy of Hales, who singled in Sam Hunter to make it 7-2. Despite their efforts, Catawba couldn't overcome Tampa's early offensive onslaught.

Jake Stipp (7-1) earned the win for Tampa, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two, and striking out two. Andrew Carson was impressive in relief, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out two, earning his fifth save of the season.

Hayden Simmerson (3-4) took the loss for Catawba, giving up six runs on six hits, including three home runs, over three innings. Payne Stolsworth and Mason Gwyn combined for five innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits.

Key Players:

• E.J. Cumbo: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
• Mike Valdez: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
• Jake Griffith: 2-for-3, RBI
• Stephen Klein: 2-for-4, R, BB
• Santiago Garavito: 3 BB, R
• Brayden Woodburn: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB

Key Pitchers:

• Jake Stipp: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K
• Andrew Carson: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Up Next

Tampa and Angelo State entered the day as the lone unbeaten teams in the double-elimination NCAA Championships. With a 10-8 IUP victory over Angelo State, the two teams will square off on Friday at 1:30 pm for a chance to play the Spartans for the national championship. UT will play the winner of Friday's game on Saturday at 1:30 pm. The Spartans will need one victory to capture the national championship, as the opponent would need a pair of Saturday wins over UT to capture the title. If necessary, the second game would follow Saturday's game one.

Key Facts

• With three hits, E.J. Cumbo now stands at 399 career hits. The NCAA Division II all-time hits leader is one shy of becoming just the third player among all NCAA ranks to reach 400 hits. Cumbo trails on Phil Stephenson (418), who played for Wichita State from 1979-82, and Khalil Green (403), who played for Clemson from 1999-2002.
• At 51 wins, the Spartans have won 50 games for the first time since 2014, and the fourth time in program history. The others came in 2006 and 2007.
• Joe Urso now has an all-time record of 1,006-287-1 (.778) in his 24 seasons at the helm of the Spartans. His .778 winning percentage currently ranks 7th all-time among all NCAA baseball head coaches. He is also the winningest active NCAA Division II head coach.
• Skylar Gonzalez set a school record with his 16th win of the season on Tuesday against Southern New Hampshire. At 16-0, Gonzalez passed the previous record of 15 wins that was achieved by current associate head coach and pitching coach Sam Militello, along with Eric Beattie and Mike Valdes.
• With eight national championships, Tampa is one shy of matching Florida Southern for the most in NCAA Division II. UT has won five national championships in the 2000s, more than any other school at any NCAA level.