Tampa Baseball Stays Hot, Moves to 11-0 With SSC Sweep

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans completed a dominant Sunshine State Conference series sweep of Saint Leo University on Saturday, winning 20–11 in the opener and 16–6 in the nightcap to secure all three games of the weekend.

Across the doubleheader, Tampa produced 36 runs on 32 hits, showcased explosive scoring frames in both contests, and received crucial innings from its bullpen to overcome an early Game 2 deficit. The sweep pushed Tampa to 11–0 overall and 3–0 in SSC play, reinforcing their No. 1 national ranking with another overwhelming display.

Game 1: Tampa 20–11

The Spartans turned a 0–0 game into an offensive onslaught, scoring five runs in the third, nine in the fifth, and five more in the sixth to defeat the Lions 20–11. Tampa tallied 17 hits, 10 walks, and played error‑free defense, while starting pitcher B.J. Bailey held Saint Leo to two early runs over 5.0 innings to earn the win.

Tampa's breakthrough began in the third inning when Javi Soto and Luke Fikar walked, Jesse Ponce bunted for a hit, and Jordan Evans delivered a two‑run double to right‑center. A wild pitch scored Ponce, Jhoander Irigoyen added a sacrifice fly, and Jake Books capped the inning with a solo home run to right field.

The Spartans broke the game open in the fifth. Brayden Woodburn's leadoff double set the table for another Evans RBI single, and Walker Vanecek detonated the inning with a grand slam to left, pushing the lead to 9–2. Tampa kept piling on as Ponce walked in a run, Woodburn drove in another on a fielder's choice, Evans singled home Fikar, and Books added a sacrifice fly. A five‑run sixth—featuring Soto's two‑run homer, plus RBIs from A.J. Graham and Drew Kennedy—secured the blowout.

Top Performers — Game 1

• Jordan Evans: 3-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 runs, double; drove in runs in each of Tampa's major innings.
• Walker Vanecek: Grand slam HR; 4 RBI, 2 runs, 1-for-3.
• Jake Books: Home run and sac fly; 2 RBI, 2 runs, reached three times.
• Brayden Woodburn: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 runs, double.
• Jesse Ponce: Reached four times on a hit and two walks, 2 RBI, 2 runs.
• Luke Fikar: Reached three times and scored 3 runs; added an RBI.
• Javi Soto: Reached three times, later homered in the sixth; 2 RBI, 3 runs.
• Jhoander Irigoyen: Sac fly and RBI in key spots; reached safely multiple times.
• B.J. Bailey (W, 3–0): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 K; kept Tampa ahead early.
• Alex Laiche: 2.0 scoreless innings, 2 K; steadied the middle.

Game 2: Tampa 16–6

After falling behind 6–0 in the second inning, Tampa stormed back with a seven‑run third and took complete control the rest of the night, winning 16–6 to complete the doubleheader sweep. Tampa finished with 15 hits and 11 walks, once again using discipline and timely power to overwhelm the Lions' staff. Sam Beir was outstanding in relief, throwing 4.1 innings of one‑run baseball to earn the victory.

The third inning reshaped the game. Fikar, Ponce, and Woodburn all reached to load the bases, setting the stage for Evans, who singled to right for two runs. Books doubled down the line to bring in another, Vanecek tied the game with a two‑run single, Fikar walked in the go‑ahead run, and Woodburn added an infield RBI single to complete the seven‑run frame.

Tampa added four in the fourth behind an Irigoyen double and a two‑run homer from Books, then pulled away in the seventh when Evans doubled in a run and Vanecek drilled a two‑run double. The Spartans closed scoring in the eighth with Evans' two‑RBI single, completing a multi‑hit, multi‑RBI performance for several lineup regulars.

Top Performers — Game 2

• Jordan Evans: 3-for-6, 5 RBI, 2 runs; two‑run single, RBI double, and two‑RBI single.
• Jake Books: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, HR, double; produced in the third, fourth, and seventh innings.
• Walker Vanecek: 2-for-5, 4 RBI, double, 2 runs; keyed the comeback and late scoring.
• Brayden Woodburn: 2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI, 3 walks, 2 SB; reached five times.
• Luke Fikar: Reached five times (1-for-2, 3 walks), 2 RBI, 3 runs.
• Jhoander Irigoyen: 2-for-5, double, RBI; sparked rallies in the fourth and sixth.
• Dennis McCaffery: Doubled, HBP, 2 runs; key late‑game production.
• A.J. Graham: 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI.
• Drew Kennedy: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, HBP; delivered RBI swings in the sixth and eighth.
• Sammy Beir (W, 1–0): 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 K; shut the door after the early Lions surge.
• Luke Fikar: 2.0 scoreless innings, 1 K; strong outing in relief.
• Oscar Hernandez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K; clean eighth inning

Up Next

The Spartans will travel to Savannah State University for a Tuesday South Region matchup at 2 p.m. Tampa then concludes the week with its first road SSC series, meeting Lynn for a 2 p.m., game on Friday, followed by an 11 a.m., Saturday doubleheader.