Urso's Walk-off Single Advances No. 1 Tampa to Super Regionals

TAMPA, FL. – The #1 University of Tampa Spartans scored five runs in the final three innings to complete a walk-off comeback to clinch a spot in the NCAA South Super Regionals.

Final: #1 Tampa 9, Mississippi College 8 (10-Innings)

Records: #1 Tampa (47-8), Mississippi College (35-23)

Location: UTampa Baseball Field | Tampa, FL.  

All-Time Series: This was the 10^th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 7-3 against the Choctaws. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Cole Russo was plunked with a pitch to begin the inning. Mike Valdez and Maddox King followed with both drawing walks to load up the bases. Jordan Williams then singled to right field to bring home Russo. End 3 | 4-1 Mississippi College
• King drew a walk to lead off the inning. After advancing to second, King would come around to score on a two-out single from J.D. Urso. Brayden Woodburn followed with a two-run shot to center field. End 5 | 8-4 Mississippi College
• With two outs, Valdez singled to left field. Then, Joe Stella drew a pinch-hit walk. Kevin Karstetter followed with a pinch-hit single to right field to bring home Valdez. Nico Saladino followed with a single to center field to bring home pinch runner Jake Griffith. End 8 | 8-6 Mississippi College
• Woodburn once again unloaded for a solo shot to lead off the inning. Edgardo Villegas followed with a walk. Later in the inning, with one out, Russo singled to right field, bringing Villegas all the way home due to a slow relay and tying the game. End 9 | 8-8 Tie
• Griffith led off the inning with a walk. A.J. Graham pinch ran for Griffith and advanced to second on a Karstetter sacrifice bunt. After a Saladino walk, Graham advanced to third on a wild pitch. Urso then walked it off with a deep fly ball to right center to bring home Graham. Final | 9-8 Tampa

AT THE PLATE: 

• Urso: 3-6, R, & 2 RBI's
• Woodburn: 2-5 (2 HR's), 2 R's, & 3 RBI's
• Russo: 2-4, R, & RBI
• Valdez: 1-3, 2 BB's, & R
  

ON THE MOUND: 

• Jacob Fletcher started on the mound. He threw 3 innings, striking out 1 while giving up 4 earned runs. Fletcher finished with a no-decision on the afternoon.
• Ryan Stefiuk came in relief for Fletcher. He recorded 2 outs while giving up 2 earned runs.
• Ethan Brown came in relief for Stefiuk. He threw 2.1 innings, striking out 4, and he gave up 0 earned runs.
• Robert Satin came in relief for Brown. He threw 3 scoreless innings, striking out 5.
• Jake Stipp came in relief for Satin. He threw a scoreless tenth. Stipp received the win in his first relief appearance of the season. He has now improved to 11-0 on the season.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host the NCAA South Super Regional final, taking on West Florida in a best-of-three series starting on Thursday, May 22^nd, at 1:00 PM.