No. 1 Spartans Open 2025 Season with a Walk-Off

TAMPA, FLA. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans open up the season in walk-off fashion after a late-inning come-from-behind victory over Georgia College.

Final: #1 Tampa 5, #13 Georgia College 4

Records: Tampa (1-0), Georgia College (0-1)

Location: Tampa Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: The Spartans are now 61-23 over the Bobcats, winners of seven straight, and 8-2 in their last 10.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After going down 2-0 in the top of the inning, the Spartans answered right back scoring two runs of their own. The Spartans got the bases loaded thanks to singles from Mike Valdez and Nico Saladino, followed by Santiago Garavito reaching first on a Bobcats fielding error. Brayden Woodburn would hit a ground ball to the shortstop, and the Bobcat's second basemen would make an error that would bring home Saladino and Valdez. End 4 | 2-2 Tie
• Once again, the Spartans found themselves in a 2-run deficit. With one out, the Spartans rallied three batters to reach base safely. Edgardo Villegas singled, J.D. Urso walked, and Kevin Karstetter brought them both home with a triple down the right-field line. End 8 | 4-4 Tie
• Cole Russo would immediately put pressure on the Bobcats with a lead-off double down the left-field line. With one out, Karstetter came up to the plate and delivered once again with a walk-off single to bring home pinch runner Dennis McCaffery. End 9 | 5-4 Tampa (Final)

AT THE PLATE:

• Karstette: 4-5 (3B), 3 RBI's, & SB
• Russo: 1-1 (2B)
• Villegas: 1-3, BB, & R
• Saladino: 1-4 & R
• Valdez: 1-4 & R

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 4 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 6. Gonzalez ended with a no-decision.
• Eli Thurmond came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw 3 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 4.
• Ethan Brown came in relief for Thurmond. He threw 1.2 innings, giving up no runs while striking out 3.
• Jacob Fletcher came in relief for Brown. He struck-out the final out in the top of the ninth and secured the victory. Fletcher received his first victory of the night.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will play game two of the season and the series against the #13 Bobcats on Saturday, Feb. 1^st, at 3:00 pm.