Tampa Baseball Captures South I Regional: Advances to Super Regional

TAMPA, Fla. – No. 1 seed University Tampa Spartans came out on top in a 12-inning decision against No. 5 seed Nova Southeastern University at the NCAA South I Regional. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No.1 Tampa Spartans 6, No. 5 Nova Southeastern Sharks 5
Records: Tampa (39-14), Nova Southeastern (34-17)
Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa now leads the all-time series by a 46-20 mark.
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HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Nova Southeastern grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first via an RBI single and sacrifice fly.
• The Spartans took their first lead of the game with a three-run fourth, going ahead 3-2. Nick Derr was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to start the UT scoring as the other runs came via a Danny Blair single and Nova run-scoring wild pitch.
• Tampa stretched its lead to 5-2 in the eighth on a Danny Sirven RBI single followed by a Stevie Mangrum double that plated Yorvis Torrealba.
• The Sharks shocked the crowd at UT Baseball field with a game-tying 3-run home run in the bottom of the eight, knotting the score at 5-5.
• Tampa took the 6-5 lead in the 12th as Freitas led off the frame with a single. The Spartan third baseman moved to second on a Stephen Smith sacrifice bunt and would then score on a two-base fielding error by the Sharks shortstop.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Mangrum was 4-for-6 from the plate with a run and RBI.
• Freitas would add three hits while also drawing a walk and scoring a pair of crucial runs.
• Finishing with two hits for UT was Torrealba, Sirven and Nick DeTringo.
• The Spartans outhit the Sharks 15 to 8.
• Mason Duke settled down after the first to pitch a gem for the Spartans. He would go 7.0 innings, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out five.
• Tyler Beck threw a career-high 5.0 innings and earned the win as the first-team all-region performer moved to 3-3 on the year. He also registered five strikeouts.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• The Spartans needed just one win on Sunday in the double-elimination South I Regional.
• Tampa has now appeared in 20 consecutive NCAA tournaments, dating back to 2000.
• Head coach Joe Urso has reached the NCAA postseason every season since he started in 2001.
• UT is looking for its first NCAA South Region championship and trip to Cary, N.C., since its national championship season in 2015.

UP NEXT:

The Spartans will host Delta State University, who captured the South II Championship. The two will meet in a best of three series beginning Friday to represent the South Region at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Series in Cary, N.C.

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