Spartans Down Delta State in NCAA South Regional Opener

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 3 seed University of Tampa Spartans baseball team came away with a close win against No. 4 seed Delta State University in the opening round of the NCAA South Regional. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 3 Tampa Spartans 7, No. 4 Delta State 6
Records: Tampa (17-4), Delta State (28-19)
Location: Jim Spooner Field | Pensacola, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 7-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Dan Sullivan got things rolling for Tampa in the bottom of the first with a single to the right field that brought home E.J. Cumbo. | 1-0 Tampa
• The Statesmen put two runs on the board in the top of the second and third innings. | 2-1 Delta State
• The Spartans took their second lead of the game in the bottom of the third, notching two runs off a pair of ground outs: Jamarcus Lyons brought in Cumbo and Sullivan brought in Drew Ehrhard. | 3-2 Tampa
• The Spartans gave up three runs in the top of the fourth and fifth inning. | 5-3 Delta State
• Spartan bats came alive down the stretch, as Tampa rattled off four runs in the games final four frames. Ehrhard scored Cumbo, unearned, on a ground out ion the bottom of the fifth to pull Tampa within one. | 5-4 Delta State
• In the bottom of the sixth, a J.D. Urso single up the middle brought home Luke Glancy to tie the game. | 5-5 Tie
• Delta State took the lead once more in the top of the seventh. | 6-5 Delta State
• The bottom of the seventh onward was all Tampa. An Ehrhard bunt scored Jose Cadenas in the bottom of the seventh and Urso scored in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal. | Final: 7-6 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Drew Ehrhard's bat was all over this one, as the junior enjoyed a 2-for-4 day at the dish with a run scored and two RBI.
• E.J. Cumbo, that of a .388 season batting average, also went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs. He also drew a walk.
• Jose Cadenas joined Cumbo and Ehrhard with a 2-for-4 day as well.
• Three other Spartans logged at least an RBI: Dan Sullivan (2), Jamarcus Lyons (1), and J.D. Urso (1).
• UT's pitching staff was dominant in relief, collectively striking out nine Delta State batters between Alex Passarella (5 Ks, 1.2 IP) and Jordan Leasure (4 Ks, 3.0 IP), while allowing just two hits and one earned run. Starter Michael Paul also struck out four.

UP NEXT: The Spartans move on and play the winner of today's Lee – Alabama-Huntsville matchup tomorrow Friday, May 28, at 4:00 p.m.

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