Spartans Trump Tars Behind Oest’s Gem
WINTER PARK, Fla. - Thanks to a complete-game shutout from sophomore Trey Oest, the top ranked University of Tampa baseball team coasted to a 9-0 victory over Sunshine State Conference foe Rollins College Friday evening.
The Spartans improve to 21-1 on the season with a 4-0 SSC tally while the Tars dip to 12-9 and 0-4 record in conference matchups.
Oest (7-0) dazzled, limiting the opposition to three hits while striking out five batters. The right-hander was the first pitcher to pitch a complete-game shut out since Josh Bowman's no-hitter on March 21, 2008.
The sophomore had the backing of the Spartan lineup, as Stephen Dezzi blasted a pair of home runs, scoring four RBI for Tampa. Senior Sean O'Brien hit 3-for-4 with a homer to his credit, scoring a pair of RBI in the 9-0 shellacking.
UT wasted no time jumping on the board, as Dezzi launched his first bomb to score Connor Obrochta in the first inning.
In the fifth inning, the Sarasota, Fla. native picked up his second two-run shot in similar fashion, scoring Obrochta for the second time.
O'Brien matched in the sixth inning with a two-run blast in the sixth to push the game to a 6-0 score.
Shortstop Giovanny Alfonzo roped a triple in the eighth frame to score another run as Tampa pushed the game from reach.
The Spartans will continue their road series against Rollins Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
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