Baseball
The No. 10 University of Tampa Spartans swept conference foe Lynn University in a three-game series this past weekend by a combined score of 29-11. These wins for the Spartans are coming after the team dropped its SSC opening series to Nova Southeastern.
With the three victories, UT improved to 18-7 overall and 4-2 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Fighting Knights of Lynn dropped an even 13-13 and 2-4 in conference play. Led by a strong pitching performance by righty Josh Thrailkill in the series opener, UT blanked Lynn 14-0 on Friday night. Thrailkill allowed just three hits in six innings, picking up his second victory on the year.
Then, in the final game of the series, right fielder Damon Elder knocked two out of the park, driving in four RBIs as he notched his first two homeruns in 2011. A blowout victory against Florida Memorial on Tuesday night gave the Spartans their 19th win this year.
More on Damon Elder
Behind his strong performance throughout all three games against Lynn this past weekend, the UT designated hitter was named Sunshine State Conference Baseball Player of the Week. In the three games against the Fighting Knights, Elder, a junior, had five hits in eight at-bats. He tallied an extra base hit in each game, and notched seven RBIs with a 1.1750 slugging percentage for the weekend.
Softball
Tampa softball, ranked 13th in the nation, improved to 23-3 on the year with a sweep over Florida Tech. The women Spartans are now 8-1 in conference play, trailing the in-conference undefeated Rollins Tars and Barry Buccaneers. UT won in walk-off fashion in the first game of the series via a 9th inning base knock from Brittany Hipple. Junior Deanna Henriott went the distance on the mound while striking out 15, picking up her 14th win of the year. In the double-header on Saturday, the Spartans again won both games by just one run behind solid pitching performances from both Henriott and senior Kari Walsh. With two wins in a double-header on Monday night against Hillsdale College, UT made it five straight wins, climbing to 25-3 on the year.
Henriott Racks up Another No-No
Spartan softball pitcher Deanna Henriott tossed her third no-hitter of the season in one of the two UT wins versus Hillsdale. She went a full five innings, striking out nine and allowing just one batter on base via a walk. She now has a 16-1 record this season.
Tennis
UT tennis won its second straight match on Saturday, March 19. They were the victors over Bentley University, taking the match 7-2. The Spartans, ranked No. 40 in the nation, now stand at 4-7 overall, looking for their first win in conference play this year (0-4). They’ll visit conference opponent Lynn University this weekend in hopes of doing just that.
Men’s Golf
Following a seventh place finish against Division I teams such as the University of Connecticut and St. John’s University at the Caribbean Intercollegiate Classic, the UT men’s golf team will travel to Muscle Shoals, Ala. for the North Alabama Invitational. The tournament takes place on March 28 and 29.
Spartan Overseas
Freshman soccer player Alex Knaggs is currently in training camp with the Trinidad & Tobago U-20 team, netting a goal for the squad in a game against Depor FC. As a Spartan this past year, Knaggs, a native of Port of Spain, Trinidad, saw action in 13 games.
Daniel Feingold can be reached at minaret.sports@gmail.com.