No. 1 Spartans Collect Seventeen Hits in a Shut-Out Victory Over No. 15 Ashland

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans shut out the #15 Ashland Eagles.

Final: #1 Tampa 8, #15 Ashland 0

Records: #1 Tampa (11-2, 1-0 SSC), Ashland (4-2)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL. 

All-Time Series: This was the 2^nd meeting between these two programs. The series is now tied 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Jordan Williams started the Spartans offense with a single to open up the game for Tampa. Brayden Woodburn would hit a slow roller to shortstop that J. Williams speed would cause the Ashland second baseman to take his eye off the ball and give the Spartans first and third with no outs. With two strikes, J.D. Urso would flick a bloop single to bring home J. Williams. Woodburn and Urso would come around to score on a Edgardo Villegas single with two outs to give the Spartans an early lead. End 1 | 3-0 Tampa
• After Kevin Karstetter reached first with an infield single, he would then steal second and third. J. Williams would beat out an infield single to bring in Karstetter. J. Williams kept his historic base running season by stealing second and third. Urso would turn around an 0-2 pitch back right up the middle to bring in J. Williams. End 2 | 5-0 Tampa
• With two outs, Maddox King would start a rally with a single to center field. J. Williams followed with a single through the left field side. After a double steal from the two and a Woodburn walk, Urso would get plunked with a pitch to bring in King. End 5 | 6-0 Tampa
• After a Jhoander Irigoyen two-out double, Karstetter would double to center field to bring home Irigoyen. End 6 | 7-0 Tampa
• Joe Stella would get a pinch hit opportunity and double to right center. Villegas would bring him in with a single. End 8 | 8-0 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• J. Williams: 4-5, 4 SB, 2 R's, & RBI
• Urso: 3-4, R, & 3 RBI's
• Villegas: 2-4, BB, & 3 RBI's
• King: 2-3, SB, & R
• Karstetter: 2-4, 2 SB, BB, R, & RBI
• Irigoyen: 2-5 & R

ON THE MOUND:

• Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 6 scoreless innings while striking out 7. Gonzalez picked up his third win and is now 3-0 in the season.
• Eli Thurmond came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw 3 scoreless innings while striking out 2 and picking up his second save of the season.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host their second double-header of the season. Tampa will take on Davenport. The first game of the doubleheader will be Saturday, March 1^st at 3:00 PM. Game two will be approximately at 7:00 PM, depending on the finish of game one.