TAMPA, Fla. – The top-ranked University of Tampa Spartans split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to win the series over longtime rival Florida Southern College in the Sunshine State Conference opener for both teams.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Game One Final: No. 5 Florida Southern 5, No. 1 Tampa 3

Game Two Final: No. 1 Tampa 11, No. 5 Florida Southern 1

Records: Tampa (8-4, 2-1 SSC), Florida Southern (9-4, 1-2 SSC)

Location: UT Baseball Field | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: Florida Southern leads Tampa 105-103 all time.

Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:

• Drew Ehrhard scored off of a first-inning double by Dan Sullivan to give the Spartans an early lead. | 1-0 Tampa
• The Moccasins added a pair of back to back solo home runs in the second inning by their sixth and seventh hitters. | 2-1 Mocs
• The Moccasins added to their lead with an RBI double | 3-1 Mocs
• Sullivan singled in the bottom of the fifth to bring in two Spartans to tie the game | 3-3
• The Moccasins broke the deadlock with two solo home runs to take the lead | 5-3 Mocs

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:

• Jose Cadenas hit a first-pitch solo home run to left field to lead off the Spartans. | 1-0 Tampa
• Florida Southern equalized with a run in the top of the second inning. | 1-1
• The Spartans added four more runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. | 5-1 Tampa
• Jordan Leasure came into pitch for the Spartans in the top of the third. | 5-1 Tampa
• Luke McDonald was the first of five Spartans to reach home plate in the bottom of the fifth. Tampa increased its lead to nine runs. | Tampa 10-1
• Freshman Adam Hunt hit a leadoff double to begin the bottom of the eighth. McDonald singled Hunt in to extend the Spartans lead. | Tampa 11-1

INSIDE THE STATS / GAME ONE:

• Ehrhard hit 2-for-3 in the game with a double for the Spartans and had two runs scored.
• Sullivan hit 3-for-5 in the game and had three RBI.
• Braydon Nelson earned his first start of the season and went 6.0 innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs while striking out six.
• Entering in relief was Jacinto Arredondo, who pitched the final 3.0 innings and is now 2-1 on the season.

INSIDE THE STATS / GAME TWO:

• Cadenas led off the Spartans with his fourth home run of the season.
• McDonald went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
• Mauro Conde and Ehrhard combined for four RBI in the game.
• Getting his first start as a Spartan was junior Michael Paul. He went 2.2 innings, allowing no earned runs with three strikeouts in the no decision.
• Jordan Leasure tossed 5.1 scoreless innings and improved to 2-1 on the year. He allowed just three hits while striking out seven and walking none.
• Michael D’Emo threw a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.

OUTSIDE THE BOX:

• The Spartans take the series in their conference opener against the Mocs.
• The Spartans outscored their opponent 24-7 in the three games.
• At No. 5 in the nation, this marks the highest ranking for a Spartan opponent in 2020.

UP NEXT:

The Spartans are back in action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as they travel to Eckerd College for a non-conference matchup between Sunshine State Conference opponents.

TEXT ALERTS:

UT also offers a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.

TAMPA SPARTANS MOBILE APP:

A free app is also available for free download through Apple and Google Play stores. Please search for Tampa Spartans Front Row.