#1 Tampa Collect 17 Hits in Win over Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans collect 17 hits in route to an opening series victory over Eckerd.

Final: #1 Tampa Spartans 18, Eckerd Tritons 3

Records: Tampa (35-4, 16-3 SSC), Eckerd (16-20, 5-14 SSC)

Location: Turley Athletic Complex | St. Petersburg, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Spartans improve to 124-43 over the Tritons and are winners of 4 straight over them.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mike Valdez hammered his sixth home run of the year for a solo shot for the game's first run. Top 2 | 1-0 Tampa
• With one out, Danny Gutcher was hit with a pitch, and Jake Griffith walked. Macallister Jorgensen then came to the plate and doubled to the left-field corner to bring in both Gutcher and Griffith. Top 4 | 3-0 Tampa
• The bottom of the Spartans lineup loaded the bases up; Griffith singled, Nico Saladino singled, and Maddox King walked for E.J. Cumbo. He would single to bring in both Griffith and Saladino. King would come into score after a failed pick-off attempt that resulted in an error by the pitcher. Later in the inning, Cumbo would come around to score on Stephen Klein's fifth long ball of the season. Top 6 | 8-2 Tampa
• After a Saladino walk and Cumbo single, Brayden Woodburn doubled to left field to bring in Saladino. Cumbo would come in to score on a Klein groundout. Woodburn would come in to score, too, after Anthony Nunez went yard for his 6^th home run of the season. Top 7 | 12-3 Tampa
• Saladino and King would reach base after getting plunked with a pitch. They would both come around to score later in the inning. Woodburn drove in Saladino with a sac fly, and J.P. Gates drove in King with a single. Top 8 | 14-3 Tampa
• The Spartans would score four more times in the ninth. Griffith singled to bring in Valdez. Parker Schlichte scored on a wild pitch. Aiden Nolasco doubled to bring home Griffith. Drew Kennedy grounded out to bring home Nolasco. Top 9 | 18-3 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

• Cumbo: 3-5, 2 RBI's, & 2 R's.
• Valdez: 3-5, BB, RBI, & 2 R's.
• Woodburn: 2-4, 2 RBI's, & R.
• Griffith: 2-4, 2 BB's, & 3 R's.

ON THE MOUND:

• Alex Canney started on the mound and improved his record to 9-1. He pitched 6 strong innings. He gave up 3 runs while striking out 4.
• Ashton Pocol relieved Canney. He pitched 3 scoreless innings while striking out 2.

UP NEXT: #1 Tampa will wrap up the series tomorrow in a day-night doubleheader to conclude their 3-game series. Game one will start at 1:00 PM. Game two is estimated at 4:00 PM