Tampa Takes Two From Florida Gulf Coast Behind Starting Pitching

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The #2 University of Tampa looked impressive in a double header sweep of #24 Florida Gulf Coast with the scores of 8-1 and 10-1.

It didn't happen until the bottom of the fourth inning, but Tampa scored the first runs of the game on Jose Jimenez's ninth homerun of the season. Ryan Kennedy led of the inning with a single before he was driven in by Jimenez. With the two runs Tampa took their first lead in the series over the Eagles.

Tampa extended their lead to six runs as four Spartans crossed the plate in the fifth. Craig Corrado's single to center drove in Kennedy and Junior Mejia. Later in the inning Paul Cruz drove in Corrado and Jimenez with his third hit of the game.

Troy Ferguson's sacrifice fly in the sixth drove in Mejia who earlier tripled, giving Tampa a 7-0 lead.

The Spartans scored for the fourth consecutive inning as Chris Rosenbaum's single up the middle drove in Roberto Mena and led FGCU 8-0.

The Eagles got on the board in the eighth when Ozzie Borrell's single drove in Paul Fibbe.

Johnny Williams once again was impressive as he gave up only five hits, struck out seven and allowed no runs, while improving his record to 6-0.

In the second game the Spartans again took the early lead, taking advantage of a Florida Gulf Coast error. Kennedy reached second on a errant throw by the shortstop and later cam around to score on Mena's RBI single.

The Spartans saw their lead grow in the fourth with three more runs. Rosenbaum doubled down the left field line driving in Mena. Two batters later, Mejia singled up the middle for another run and finally T. Ferguson tripled to left center for the third run as Tampa led 4-0.

Josh Upchurch's triple drove in Paul Fibbe for the first run of the game for the Eagles in the fifth.

Tampa countered with three more runs in the fifth. Nolan Brannon collected two RBI on his RBI single through the right side. T. Ferguson's sacrifice fly to right was deep enough to score Rosenbaum and give the Spartans a 7-1 lead.

For the third straight inning the Spartans scored three runs as their lead was nine at 10-1. Brannon's double gave him two more RBI and Mena drove in Jimenez with a sacrifice fly.

Kevin Ferguson threw six innings giving up only one run striking out seven batters while he improved his record to 5-2.

The Spartans play Division I Harvard tomorrow at 1:00 pm at the University of Tampa Baseball Field.