PENSACOLA, Fla. — No.1 University of West Florida fell to No. 2 University of Tampa with a final score of 13-6 on Thursday at Jim Spooner Field in game one of the NCAA DII South Super Regional.
Tampa scored seven runs in the third inning, capitalizing on an error and two home runs, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead through three innings.
In the fifth inning, West Florida responded with two runs as
Trent Kelly hit a two-run homer to left field, bringing the score to 8-2.
West Florida continued to chip away in the sixth inning.
Zack Stokes hit an RBI double, followed by an inside the park two-run homer by Kelly, narrowing the deficit to 9-5.
The seventh inning saw the Argos add another run.
Greg Pettay scored on a groundout by
Peyton Martin, bringing the score to 9-6.
Tampa extended its lead in the eighth inning, scoring two runs on a pair of singles, making it 11-6. In the ninth, Tampa added two more runs resulting in a final score of 13-6.
Braden Rapp started for West Florida, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing six hits and two home runs while walking one and striking out two.
Christian Pencek relieved, delivering 3.1 innings with three strikeouts, conceding four hits and two earned runs.
Blake Thomas contributed 2 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs, striking out three.
Eli Lamb closed the game with 1 inning pitched.
The series will continue with game two tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Jim Spooner Field.
