Josiah Velazquez, the losing pitcher against Valdosta, is jogging out to the mound. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Fishman.
Despite a four-run lead in the seventh inning, the Spartans lost 8-7 at home to the Valdosta State University Blazers.
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By Jeremy Fishman
TAMPA, Fla. — The University of Tampa Spartans baseball team celebrated throwback night on Tuesday against Valdosta State Blazers. UTampa scored seven runs in the first five innings, but a five-run top of the seventh fueled the Blazers to an 8-7 win.
To celebrate throwback night, before the game, fans saw pictures of the Spartan players from their childhood. Images ranged from Little League uniforms, Halloween outfits, and baby photos. Each player’s graphic that appeared on the video board throughout the game displayed these photos.
Oscar Hernandez, junior right-handed pitcher, made his first start of the season for the Spartans. He recorded two quick outs before allowing a double from Ryan Strachan, junior designated hitter. Luke Flading, junior outfielder, followed with an RBI single, giving Valdosta a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Spartans’ lineup went down in order against freshman right-hander Boomer Dunn. Hernandez allowed one hit but no runs in the top of the second. In the bottom half, Jhoander Irigoyen, senior designated hitter, led off with a single. With one out, junior catcher Nik Pereira doubled to score Irigoyen. A flyout moved Pereira to third base, setting up a go-ahead RBI single for Jack Martinez, junior third baseman, to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the third, a walk, a single, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Irigoyen. On a full count, Irigoyen hit a deep drive into left field. The Spartan fanbase rose to its feet, thinking that they were about to witness a grand slam. However, the wind kept the ball in the yard, and one run scored on the sacrifice fly.
With a 3-1 lead, Hernandez took the mound for his fourth inning. He allowed a walk and a single, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Junior right-handed pitcher Kenney Robinson replaced Hernandez on the mound, looking to get out of the jam, but the first batter he faced, junior shortstop Jason Mack, hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Blazers within one run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Preston Wetherell, senior right-handed pitcher, relieved Dunn. He induced two quick groundouts, but Martinez doubled to extend the inning. Jesse Ponce, junior shortstop, and Jordan Evans, senior outfielder, each doubled in a run, extending the Spartans’ lead to 5-2.
Robinson went back out for the top of the fifth. With two outs and a runner on third, Strachan delivered again with an RBI single. Josiah Velazquez, junior left-handed pitcher, entered the game for the Spartans, earning the final out.
After Valdosta cut the Spartans’ lead to two runs, Jake Books, senior outfielder, provided much-needed insurance runs for the Spartans. His fifth inning double scored two runs to give UTampa a 7-3 lead.
Neither team scored in the sixth despite a bases-loaded rally from the Spartans that ended with a Pereira strikeout.
The seventh inning saw a collapse that the Spartans have not seen all season. Velazquez gave up a leadoff single followed by a hit-by-pitch. Then, Brent Howard, senior first baseman, ripped an RBI double into right field. Strachan came to the plate as the tying run. On a one-ball count, he hit a fly ball into right field that Books camped under. However, the wind was blowing straight out to the right and carried the ball just over the wall for a game-tying three-run home run.
Velazquez allowed one more walk before his day came to an end. Tobin Moran, senior right-handed pitcher, entered the game. He worked his way out of the inning, but not before Mack came through with a go-ahead single to give the Blazers an 8-7 lead.
Student manager Nick Creek said he was surprised by the blown lead, but since he has seen the Spartans at their best, he doesn’t think this is the new normal.
Neither team scored the rest of the way, and the Blazers held on to win 8-7.
The next day, sophomore infielder Jake Turer said the Spartans need to bounce back.
“Flush it out, and today’s a new day,” said Turer.
The Spartans travel to Nova Southeastern on Friday, April 10. Ahead of the conference series, B.J. Bailey, a graduate left-handed pitcher, said it is important to handle business on the road and keep their ranking high in order to host a regional playoff series.