SAUGET, ILL. – Hopes of a third-straight national championship slowly diminished Tuesday as Ouachita Baptist whittled away at an early 7-0 Spartan lead.
The fourth-ranked Ouachita took its only lead of the game in the ninth-inning but held on to hand third-ranked University of Tampa its second-straight loss and an early exit from the rain-soaked World Series.
Tampa ends the season at 42-11-1, while Ouachita Baptist, playing in the school’s first World Series, improves to 48-15, advancing to play Ashland Wednesday in another elimination game.
Tampa was knocked into the losers’ bracket Monday by No. 16-ranked Ashland, who fell behind 5-1 in the fourth-inning but held UT scoreless to win 6-5.
Then in another rain-delayed game Tuesday, UT’s defending national champions were outscored 12-3 after taking what seemed to be a commanding 7-0 third-inning lead.
But it wasn’t until the ninth inning that UT fell behind.
A single down the right field line in the top of the inning by Ouachita’s Blake Lockwood scored Drew Maus for the go-ahead run from second base.
Tampa had gotten two runs in the bottom of the sixth and plated another run in the seventh for a 10-7 lead, but a three-run blast by the Tigers’ Justin Pennell in the eighth inning tied the game once at 10. Pennell finished the game 4-for-6 at the plate with five RBIs and one run scored, while Chad Taylor went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
“I’d like to congratulate our players for being so resilient,” said Ouachita Baptist head coach Scott Norwood. “There’s no such thing as a seven-run home run. Our players did it all and hung together. They deserve 100 percent of the credit.”
Alex Smith (5-2) picked up the win for Ouachita Baptist, working six innings, while Steve Smith collected his third save of the year.
“Give credit to Ouachita Baptist,” said Tampa head coach Joe Urso. “They just started hammering the ball.”
Anthony Perez (4-2) took the loss for Tampa, surrendering four runs on six hits in three innings.
Earlier Game: Ashland 6, Tampa 5
David Quirog’s homerun over the right field fence in the seventh inning lifted No. 16 ranked Ashland to a 6-5 victory over No. 3 ranked Tampa in the first-round game.
The game was originally scheduled to be played 18 hours earlier, but Sunday night rain storms forced the game to be moved. The Eagles used four unanswered runs, including Quirog’s blast, to rally from a 5-2 deficit in the fourth inning. The win moves Ashland to 40-16 on the season, while Tampa falls to 42-10-1. Ashland advances to play No. 1 ranked Mount Olive on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., while Tampa will play Ouachita Baptist Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
“It was a great ballgame from our standpoint,” said Ashland head coach John Schaly. “Jeremy Sloan (pitcher) came in from the bullpen and shut them down. We also got big hits when we needed to. We beat a great team and it’s a big win for our program.”
Tampa held a 5-2 lead after two-run home runs by Steven Broschofsky and Junior Meja, in the fourth inning before the Eagles came roaring back.
Despite the loss, the Spartans out-hit Ashland, 14-11, with Jesus Barroso going 3-for-5 at the plate.
The Eagles were led by Jeff Yates, who batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Jeremy Sloan collected the win for Ashland, pitching three innings in relief. He scattered just three hits and struck out three. Todd Schlenkerman garnered his second save of the season, working two and one-third innings.
“Sloan’s slider was real sharp today,” said Tampa head coach Joe Urso. “He threw fastballs on the outer part of the plate and that’s what we were getting called out on.”
Danny Keefe took the loss for Tampa, allowing two runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings.