Hurricanes Edge Spartans to Take Rubber Game of Series
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 11 | 1 |
AMERICUS, Ga. — The No. 1 University of Tampa baseball team was held to a single run for the second time in three days, falling 2–1 to Georgia Southwestern University on Sunday afternoon at Hurricane Stadium.
The Spartans dropped to 16–3 after managing six hits and stranding ten runners, while the Hurricanes rode a complete‑game performance from right‑hander Johnny Nutt, who allowed one run with three walks and two strikeouts across 136 pitches. Tampa took a brief lead in the third inning, but Georgia Southwestern answered with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth and held on to claim the series.
How It Happened
Tampa's first scoring opportunity came in the third inning. Jack Martinez led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error, and Jordan Evans was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. After two strikeouts, Jhoander Irigoyen delivered a clean RBI single through the left side, driving in Martinez to give the Spartans a 1–0 lead.
Georgia Southwestern answered immediately. In the bottom of the fourth, Tripp Helgeson lifted a solo home run to left to tie the game at 1–1. The Hurricanes later took the lead in the sixth when Edwin Melendez connected for a solo homer of his own, making it 2–1. Tampa threatened in both the sixth and eighth innings but left runners at the corners each time.
On the mound, John Luke Glanton kept the Spartans within striking distance, tossing 5.2 innings with nine hits allowed, two earned runs, and three strikeouts before Sammy Beir entered and delivered 2.1 scoreless frames to keep Tampa alive. But Nutt continued to induce weak contact and timely outs, retiring seven of the final eight Spartans to secure the complete‑game win.
Top Performers
- Jhoander Irigoyen: 2-for-4, RBI. Drove in Tampa's only run with a third‑inning single.
- Jack Martinez: 1-for-3, run. Reached twice, scored in the third, and stole a base in the ninth.
- Walker Vanecek: 1-for-3, walk, SB. Reached twice and added a stolen base in the eighth.
- Gunnett Carlson: 2-for-4. Delivered a pair of singles and reached scoring position in the sixth.
- Sammy Beir: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 SO. Kept the Hurricanes off the board in relief.
- John Luke Glanton (L, 4–1): 5.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO. Worked around traffic throughout the afternoon but was hurt by two solo homers.
Up Next
Tampa is back home for the four-game, three-day series with Davenport University, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The series will include a 1 p.m., Saturday doubleheader followed by an 11 a.m., contest on Sunday.