Top-Ranked Tampa Takes Series Win Over Lynn

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team kept its unbeaten Sunshine State Conference start intact with a 12–8 victory over Lynn on Friday afternoon.

The Spartans moved to 13–1 overall and 5–0 in SSC play, erupting for a seven‑run fifth inning and generating consistent offense throughout a 12‑hit afternoon. Tampa built a commanding 10–0 lead by the sixth inning before withstanding a late Lynn push to secure its second straight win in Boca Raton. Starter B.J. Bailey earned his fourth victory of the season with six strong innings, and the Spartans recorded their third double‑digit scoring performance in their last four games.

How it Happened

Tampa took an early lead in the second inning, beginning with Javi Soto's sacrifice fly to score Jhoander Irigoyen. Moments later, Jack Martinez singled through the right side to bring home Jake Books, giving the Spartans a 2–0 advantage. Bailey worked crisply through the opening frames, allowing only four baserunners over his first five innings.

The game broke open in the fifth, when the Spartans sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored seven runs. The inning began with Brayden Woodburn drawing a bases‑loaded walk, followed immediately by a Lynn wild pitch that allowed Jordan Evans to score. Irigoyen followed with a run‑scoring double, and Walker Vanecek split the gap in right‑center for a two‑RBI double to stretch the lead to 6–0. Gunnett Carlson added a sharp two‑run single up the middle, and Martinez delivered a sacrifice fly to cap the inning and make it 9–0.

Tampa added a run in the sixth on Vanecek's RBI single, pushing the margin to 10–0. Lynn finally broke through against the bullpen with a run in the bottom half, but Martinez answered in the seventh by launching a solo home run—his first of the season—to push the lead to 11–1. An eighth‑inning passed ball allowed Drew Kennedy to score Tampa's final run of the day.

Lynn mounted a late comeback attempt, highlighted by Cole Beck's four‑run homer in the eighth and two additional runs in the ninth, but Luke Fikar ended the threat by recording the final out to secure Tampa's 12–8 victory.

Top Performers

• B.J. Bailey: (W, 4–0), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.
• Jhoander Irigoyen: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double. Ignited scoring early and produced in both the second and fifth innings.
• Jack Martinez: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, HR, sac fly. Drove in runs in three separate innings, including a solo homer in the seventh to mark his first as a Spartan.
• Walker Vanecek: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, run, double. Provided a key two‑run double during Tampa's seven‑run fifth.
• Gunnett Carlson: 2-for-3, RBI, run, walk. part of multiple scoring sequences and contributed a two‑run single.
• Javi Soto: 1-for-3, RBI, sac fly, double. Opened scoring with a sacrifice fly; added a double later.
• Jake Books: 1-for-3, 2 runs, walk. Scored twice and set the table for multiple RBI swings behind him.
• Brayden Woodburn: 0-for-2, RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks. Scored twice and drove in a run with a bases‑loaded walk.
• Jordan Evans: 1-for-4, run, walk, stolen base. Reached twice and scored during Tampa's offensive surge.

Up Next

The teams will conclude the three-game series with the final game on Sunday at noon. Originally scheduled as game two of Saturday doubleheader, weather forced the game to Sunday.