No. 7 Tampa Rallies From Three-Run Deficit to Beat Shippensburg, 6-5
Mar. 12, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. - A sacrifice fly to centerfield by Garrett Maines in the bottom of the seventh that scored Nolan Brannon proved to be the game-winning RBI as No. 7-ranked Tampa battled back from a three-run deficit to edge out a 6-5 victory over Shippensburg Wednesday afternoon at UT Baseball Stadium.
The loss snapped an eight-game win streak for the Red Raiders (9-8). Six of Shippensburg's eight losses have come against teams ranked in the top-11 of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Poll, including four at Mount Olive who is currently the top-ranked team in the nation.
The loss not only snapped the Red Raiders' win streak, but also signified the end of an 18-game hitting streak for senior Justin Garber (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown). Garber had at least one hit in all 16 of the team's games entering this afternoon, but his 0-for-4 performance against the Spartans ended his streak just four game's shy of the school record of 22-straight games with a hit held by Chad Stecker '05.
The 18-game streak was the longest of Garber's career, bettering his 13-game streak set last season from April 2 to April 20.
Despite going hitless, Garber managed to get on base for the 62nd consecutive game after he was hit by a pitch from Spartan reliever Rick Hudson in the top of the seventh with Shippensburg trailing 4-3. Two batters later, junior Tyler Redick (Fairfield/Walkersville (Md.)) hit a two-out, two-run double to center that scored Garber and senior Eric Dezell (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) to give the Red Raiders a 5-4 lead.
Redick finished the game 3-for-4 while junior Sean Killian (Columbia/Hempfield) was 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
Jose Jimenez led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left center before Maines' sacrifice provided the final margin of victory for the Spartans.
Shippensburg managed to build a 3-0 lead after two innings thanks to strong pitching from junior Andrew Burke (Fayetteville/Chambersburg) who held the nation's seventh-ranked team scoreless through four innings while allowing just three hits.
However, Burke ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when Tampa loaded the bases following back-to-back walks and a single to left by Ryan Williams after Burke had retired to first two batters. Jared Simon followed with a double down the left field line to clear the bases and tie the game before scoring during the next at bat on a throwing error to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead.
The Red Raiders built its three-run lead with first inning RBI singles by sophomores Kevin Scholly (State College/State College) and Rick Shumway (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) as well as a lead-off home run in the second by Killian.
Shippensburg and Tampa will wrap-up their two-game series on Thursday with a nine-inning contest at UT Baseball Stadium. First-pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
- Red Raider
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