Gonzalez Tosses Eight Innings to Give No. 1 Spartans SSC Opening Win

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans secure their first conference win of the season after defeating Lynn.

Final: #1 Tampa 6, Lynn 2

Records: #1 Tampa (8-2, 1-0 SSC), Lynn (6-6, 0-1 SSC)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL. 

All-Time Series: This was the 114^th meeting between these two programs. Tampa leads 87-27.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After lead-off man J. Williams singled on an infield hit, he than stole second to give the Spartans a man in scoring position. With two outs, Cole Russo came in clutch with going the other way with an off speed pitch and singling to right field to bring home J. Williams. End 3 | 1-1 Tie
• Spartans put up a five spot in the fourth. Lenny Ashby led the inning off with a walk, Kevin Karstetter followed with a double to the right-field corner, Edgardo Villegas followed with a 2-run double, just missing sneaking the ball over the right field wall, Nico Saladino then laid down a perfectly executed bunt single, and J. Williams ended the consecutive streak of Spartans reaching base safely with an RBI-double. With one out, Saladino would score on a wild pitch, and J. Williams would score on a J.D. Urso RBI groundout. End 4 | 6-1 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• J. Williams: 2-4, 2 R's, & RBI
• Ashby: 1-1, R, & 3 BB's
• Saladino: 1-2, R, & BB
• Russo: 1-3, RBI, & BB
• Karstetter: 1-3, R, & BB

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 8 innings while striking out 4 and giving up 2 runs. Gonzalez picked up his second win and is now 2-0 in the season.
• Eli Thurmond came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw a scoreless 9^th inning while striking out 1.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host their first double-header of the season to wrap up opening weekend of conference play, against Lynn. The first game of the doubleheader will be Saturday, February 22^nd at 1:00 PM. Game two will be approximately at 4:00PM, depending on the finish of game one.