TAMPA, Fla. –
Ashton Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in, but it was not enough as Flagler College was defeated by No. 1 (
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Top 40) University of Tampa 4-2 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday night at the UT Baseball Field.
Tampa won its eighth game in a row and improved to 9-1. Flagler is now 5-6.
Thomas' two-run double to right-center in the fifth inning tied the game, but Flagler could only muster two more base runners for the remainder of the game.
The Spartans scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. After an infield single and a walk started the inning, J.D. Urso advanced both runners with a bunt.
Gavin Barnell came on to pitch in relief for the Saints and walked the next batter to load the bases. An error by the Flagler second baseman allowed the first run to score and then Josh Rulli hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate the insurance run.
Dalton Ross (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Tampa. He tossed two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with five strikeouts. Braydon Nelson retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, with one strikeout, to earn the save.
Four different Tampa batters had a single. The Spartans drew six walks.
Robert Archbold (0-1) took the loss in relief for the Saints. He worked three innings, allowed two unearned runs and one hit.
Anthony Nofi fanned three batters and walked one in 1 1/3 innings. He did not allow a hit or a run.
Donovan Garcia collected two singles and scored a run.
Myles Colangelo,
Matthew Burke,
Coy Phillips, and
Trey Newland each hit a single.
Flagler hosts Rollins College for a two-game set starting Friday at 5 p.m. at Drysdale Field.
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