TAMPA, Fla. – The Spring Hill College baseball team took part in its first ever NCAA Division II Regional Tournament on Thursday, falling 18-9 to the South Region's top seed and host, the University of Tampa, at UT Baseball Field.

The Badgers wasted no time acquainting themselves with scoring in the postseason as John Sklopan singled in two runs in the opening frame to give the guests a 2-0 lead.

The Spartans proved why they earned the No. 1 seed, responding with nine runs over their first three at-bats, chasing starter Taylor Gibson after just 2.0+ innings of work.

Trailing 10-3 entering the fifth inning, SHC benefited from a two-run home run from Grayson Williams and a RBI double from Neil Ring to cut the deficit to four.

UT answered right back with a two-run home run in the home half of the inning from Nick DeTringo. The Spartans would go on to score eight unanswered runs over the next three innings to push the game out of reach.

The Badgers' offense ended the game with 14 hits, just three shy of the hosts, but left 12 runners on base in the contest.
Sklopan finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI. Williams and Mason Bonnaffons both added two RBI for SHC.

Spring Hill (29-21) will face Nova Southeastern on Friday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET tomorrow. Nova Southeastern carried a 4-1 lead into the ninth inning Thursday, but West Florida rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game, 5-4. 

Tournament page
https://www.tampaspartans.com/tournaments/bsb/2018-19/index