TAMPA, Fla. -- With an eighth inning go-ahead run from Nick Tindall, No. 1 Tampa outlasted Stillman by a 3-2 score in the first day of the Division II South Region Tournament.
The Spartans continue with a 48-2 overall record while the Tigers dip to 30-20.
Both Tyler Ding and Tindall ended the game hitting 3-for-4 with a RBI, as the latter notched a pair of doubles. Junior Stephen Dezzi tallied a pair of hits, including a solo homer to right in the 3-2 Tampa win.
Stillman struck first during the top of the second inning, as Seth Booth laced a two-out single to right field, setting up Anthony Delgado to hit a RBI single, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead against UT.
Tampa would even the score and inning later, as Ding plated Orlando Rivera on a base-hit through the left side of the infield.
The two squads traded blows in the fifth frame as Tigers outfielder Paul Winterbottom posted a RBI single. UT designated hitter Dezzi matched with a solo home run to right, evening the score again at 2-2 through five complete innings.
Junior Tindall gave Tampa its first lead of the day as the catcher plated Ding from first on a clutch single to left field. The Spartans ended the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead.
Tampa starting pitcher Chase Sparkman limited the opponents to a pair of runs through six innings of work in his no-decision. Closer Kevin McNorton (7-0) earned the win as the senior tossed the final three innings, scattering two hits and sending two down on strikes.
Stillman hurler Tyler Vails (7-2) pitched eight innings, allowing three runs over 10 hits for the loss.
