No. 1 Spartans Power to 14–6 Road Win Over Valdosta State
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
VALDOSTA, Ga. — The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team powered its way to a 14–6 victory over Valdosta State University on Tuesday afternoon in a regional matchup at Billy Grant Field.
The Spartans improved to 15–1 overall, producing 13 hits, five home runs, and seven extra‑base hits while scoring in six different innings. Tampa built an 8–0 lead through three innings, absorbed a mid‑game surge from the Blazers, and closed strong behind late offense and solid bullpen work from Cade Drohan and Oscar Hernandez.
How It Happened
Tampa wasted no time asserting itself in the opening inning. Jake Books doubled to right to drive in Brayden Woodburn and Jordan Evans, and an error allowed another run to score before Javi Soto grounded out to plate Walker Vanecek, making it 4–0 before Valdosta State came to bat.
The Spartans struck again in the second, taking advantage of multiple wild pitches. A.J. Graham scored on a wild pitch, Woodburn came home on a Books RBI groundout, and Irigoyen raced home on yet another misfire from the Blazers' mound to stretch the lead to 7–0. Tampa added another in the third when Evans doubled home Gunnett Carlson, pushing the margin to 8–0.
After Valdosta State scratched across a run in the third, Tampa immediately countered in the sixth. Graham launched a solo homer to left, and Evans followed with a no‑doubter to left of his own. Moments later, Vanecek lifted a sacrifice fly to score Woodburn as the Spartans surged ahead 11–2.
The Blazers rallied for three runs in the seventh on a pair of RBI groundouts and a Brent Howard single, trimming the margin to 12–5. But Tampa responded again in the ninth when Woodburn hammered a two‑run double to right‑center—scoring Evans and Graham—to put the game out of reach at 14–5 before Valdosta State added a final unearned run.
On the mound, Tobin Moran opened with four strong innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts. Alex Laiche earned the win with two innings of one‑run work, and despite a brief stumble by Slaide Naturman, Drohan and Hernandez held the Blazers to one run over the final three frames.
Top Performers
- Jordan Evans: 4-for-5, HR, double (2), 2 RBI, 3 runs. Explosive day at the top of the order, reaching five times.
- Brayden Woodburn: 3-for-4, double, 3 RBI, 3 runs, walk, stolen base. Delivered a two‑run double in the ninth and reached four times.
- Jake Books: 2-for-5, double, 3 RBI, walk, stolen base. Set the tone with a two‑RBI double in the first and added a run-scoring groundout.
- A.J. Graham: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 3 runs, walk. Homered to start Tampa's sixth‑inning surge.
- Walker Vanecek: 1-for-5, double, RBI, run. Productive in the middle of the order with an RBI sac fly and extra‑base hit.
- Gunnett Carlson: RBI, run, walk. Contributed an RBI in Tampa's four‑run first.
- Javi Soto: RBI. Drove in a run in the first on a groundout and later added key defensive stability.
- Tobin Moran: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO. Starting pitcher who left with Spartans holding an 8-1 lead.
- Alex Laiche: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO. Won first game as a Spartan to move to 1-0 on the season.
- Cade Drohan: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K. Shut down the Blazers during their comeback attempt.
Up Next
Tampa returns home and then travels back to Georgia for a three-game series at Georgia Southwestern University in Americus, Ga. The games are on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.