Tampa 7, SNHU 4

When and Where: June 4, 2024 – Cary, N.C. (USA Baseball Complex-Coleman Field)
Result: #1 University of Tampa 7, #21 Southern New Hampshire University 4
Records: SNHU 37-18, Tampa 50-8

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Sophomore Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) ripped a two-run double, but SNHU’s comeback effort fell short in a 7-4 loss to top-ranked University of Tampa in a winner’s bracket game at the Division II National Championship in Cary, N.C. on Tuesday.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• DeMaro – 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
• Senior Dylan O’Sullivan (Manchester, N.H.) – 1-4, R, RBI
• Sophomore Jake Pisano (Hamden, Conn.)- 1-for-3, RBI
• Sophomore Zach Brassill (No. Hampton, N.H.) – 6.2 IP – 6 ER – 4 K
• Senior Griffin Gilbert (Concord, N.H.) – 1.1 IP – 0 H – 0 ER – 1 K
• Sophomore Jake Risedorf (Barkhamsted, Conn.) – 1-for-4, R, 0.2 IP, 0 ER
• Sophomore DyrensonWouters (Oranjestad, Aruba)- 1-for-3, HP
• Sophomore Harry Vargas Segura (Bronx, N.Y.) – 1-for-3, R
• Senior Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, D.R.) -0-for-3, R, HP
• Freshman Nater Wachter (Concord, N.H.) – 1-for-4

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tampa scored a pair in the top of the first inning. E.J. Cumbo led off with a single and J.P. Gates just cleared the fence in left field to make it 2-0.
• The Penmen loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the first inning. Vargas Segura, who led off with a single, scored on a sacrifice fly by Pisano to make it 2-1.
• Consecutive two-out hits in the top of the second inning enabled the Spartans to take a 3-1 lead. Nico Saladino doubled and scored on a single by Jake Griffith.
• Tampa used three consecutive doubles to start the third inning to extend the lead to 5-1.
• Brassill retired six batters in a row before an infield single by Brayden Woodburn in the top of the sixth inning. He stole second and scored on a single by Saladino as the Spartans opened the lead to 6-1.
• Consecutive errors led to another Tampa run in the seventh inning with Steph Klein scoring on a base hit by Santiago Garavito.
• Spartan starter Skylar Gonzalez had retired 11 in a row before the first three Penmen reached in the seventh. Burgos was hit by pitch, Risedorf singled, and O’Sullivan made it 7-2 with a single to right field.
• DeMaro followed with a two-run double to left-center to cut the lead to 7-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brassill allowed 10 hits, and seven runs (six earned), walking three and striking out four.
• Gonzalez improved to 16-0 for Tampa, allowing four runs on five hits in his 6.1innings.
• Gates went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and homer. He also finished up on the mound for the Spartans after starting the game as the designated hitter, earning a save.
• Senior catcher Steven Kienzle (Holbrook, N.Y.) threw out one runner attempting to steal and added a sacrifice bunt.
• Junior Anderson Moreno (Bronx, N.Y.) pinch-hit in the ninth for the Penmen in his first appearance in the 2024 championship.

NOTES

• Vargas Segura tied the single-season mark with his 49^th walk drawn in the bottom of the third. That ties Matt Boulter’s mark from 2012.
• O’Sullivan continued his torrid clip in the NCAA tournament in which the Penmen. He has 10 hits in 25 at-bats (.400) with three homers and 19 RBIs in seven games.
• Gilbert is one of only two Penmen to have had experience in Cary. He had worked 1.1 IP in the 2023 Championship. DeMaro, who’s been the regular third baseman, also pitched in last year’s Championship.
• This was the first meeting between SNHU and Tampa on the diamond.
• The Spartans, winners of eight National Championships, have won 50 games for the first time since going 54-4 in 2014.
• The game was moved up three hours in anticipation of thunderstorms. At first pitch, the temperature was 90 degrees at the USA Baseball Complex.

UP NEXT

• SNHU will meet Catawba College in an elimination contest on Wednesday. The Penmen beat the Indians in the tournament opener Sunday.
• The NCAA has moved up games on Wednesday, again with the possibility of thunderstorms. The Penmen will play the second game of the day 45 minutes after the completion of an elimination contest between #4 Point Loma and #5 Indiana (PA).
• #2 seed Tampa and #8 Angelo State, the defending national champs, are the two remaining unbeaten in the field and will not play until Thursday.

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