#7 Tampa Takes Both Games To Start the Season
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The University of Tampa baseball team started its 2010 season with a doubleheader hosted by Georgia College & State University. The Spartans won both of their games, giving them an opening season record of 2-0. The Spartans topped the Bobcats 8-6 in the first game and 9-4 in the second.
In a game full of big hits, Tampa hit four homers in comparison to the one by the Bobcats. Tampa infielder Brad Roberts had six hits in the two games.
In the first game, Tampa came out swinging, putting four runs on the board in the first inning alone. The runs came off a couple of singles from right fielder Tyler Cox and second baseman Brad Roberts, who were then advanced when Mike Schwartz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Jared Simon singled to bring in Cox followed by a Mike Blanke double to right center, scoring both Roberts and Schwartz.
In the fifth inning, the Spartans added a pair of runs to their lead with a two run single from shortstop Correy Figueroa. The scoring attack from Tampa ended with a monster two-run homer over the left field wall by Schwartz.
UT starter Sean Bierman picked up the win, pitching five solid innings giving up five hits and a single earned run. The only earned run came off of a solo home run by Bobcat's catcher Richard Pirkle. The lefty also struck out three and walked one on route to Tampa's victory. Reliever Daniel Foltz picked up a save in the first game of the season.
In similar fashion to the first game, the Spartans wasted no time putting some runs on the board off of a two run shot by left fielder Jared Simon. Dylan Brown hit a solo shot to left center during the second inning and later on showed off some of his defense with a jumping catch at the wall in the third inning, robbing GCSU first baseman Matt Pitts of extra bases that would have potentially tied the game.
In the fourth inning, the Spartans led off with a double from Patrick Donahue followed by a walk for Brown. A perfect sacrifice bunt from Adam Pendleton put the two Spartans in scoring position for Cox to single to left and pick up the two RBI. The offensive onslaught continued with a towering two run homer from Pendleton that put the Spartans at a comfortable 9-4 lead in the top of the fifth.
Josh Bowman picked up the win in game two of the doubleheader, going five innings giving up five hits and three earned runs while Aaron Gerbasi, walked one without surrendering a hit in his two innings of relief.
Tampa will return to action Monday to finish the series with the Bobcats, slotted for a 1 p.m. start time. Lives stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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