TAMPA, Fla. – The Valdosta State Blazers fell to the No. 3 Tampa Spartans by a final of 14-3 on Tuesday evening in the Sunshine State. UT would tally six extra base hits to VSU's one as they would tally big hits in key situations. Valdosta State would walk a total of eight hitters as they couldn't find the strike zone all evening. VSU would drop to 20-15 overall while UT improved to 26-6.
 
Three Blazers recorded two hits as Farid Eljaiek, Pedro Moreno, and Orlando Pena all tallied two hits with Moreno and Pena each driving in a runner. VSU used a total of nine arms as Trey Jackson got the start and was given his first loss of the year as he allowed six runs in 1.1 innings of work.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
DJ Banks singled with one out in the top of the first as Orlando Pena followed that up with a bloop single into right to put runners in scoring position with one away. Hunter Stowe lifted a high fly ball into right center as he leaped to make the catch but hit off the glove and dropped in the outfield grass as the quickly relayed it in to catch Pena in a run down as VSU couldn't capitalize as the score remained 0-0. Trey Jackson took the bump in the bottom of the first and went a perfect 1-2-3 on 12 pitches.
 
In the top of the second, Cole Steinmetz doubled with one out into right center but was left stranded as two weak ground balls ended the top half. Jackson walked the cleanup hitter to open things in the bottom of the second ran the count to 2-0 on the five hole hitter before battling it back to full after a few foul balls. Jackson would walk the hitter on a pitch clock violation as runners were at first and second with no one out. Jackson would quickly strike out the next hitter on three pitches before walking the bases loaded. After jumping ahead 0-2, Tampa third baseman Kevin Karsetter blooped a ball into right as everyone moved up a spot with UT going ahead 1-0. A few pitches later, a single into left would bring two more home as it was 3-0 with no one out. After falling behind 3-1, Tampa leadoff hitter Jordan Williams hit a three run home run over Easton Hood's head in right as it was 6-0 with Trey Jackson's day ending in the bottom of the second. After bringing in a new pitcher, UT shortstop JD Urso homered to center as the Spartans led 7-0 after two.
 
Tampa brought a new arm in the top of the fourth as Eli Thurmond came in relief for Jacob Fletcher who went three strong innings and allowed zero runs on 41 pitches. Easton Hood would single in the top of the fourth into right but was once again left stranded as VSU couldn't capitalize with runners on base through four with the score still at 7-0.
 
Jaden Paradoa came in during the bottom of the third and threw two perfect innings as he kept the hot Tampa offense at bay as the bats finally churned together consecutive hits in the top of the fifth as three straight singles from Farid Eljaiek, Will Beckham, and Pedro Moreno plated one as they still trailed. Following a hustle play to beat out a double play, Orlando Pena singled into the left corner to cut it to a five run game. Hunter Stowe would reach on a fielder's choice which brought home Pena as they trailed 7-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth. UT would scrape together another run in the bottom of the fifth as Urso tripled into right center to bring home Saladino as the Tampa led Valdosta State 8-3 through six.
 
Nick Del Negro relieved Trent Lewis in the bottom of the sixth and walked the first two batters he faced as he was making his first appearance since March 14. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with one away and the order turning over. A short chopper back to the pitcher got the runner at third in a rundown as he tagged him for the second out of the inning. After jumping ahead in the count, Saladino tripled into right center as the lead was back to seven at 10-3 through six.
 
Tampa would continue to pour it on as they scored four in the bottom of the seventh as they would go on to come out with a 14-3 victory.