Stillman Tigers fall to Tampa in NCAA South Region

TAMPA, Florida  – Tampa downed Stillman 5-4 in the opening game of the 2013 NCAA Division II South Region Tournament at Spartan Field in Tampa.

The Spartans got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when B.J. Zimmerman grounded out to the second baseman to score Sean O'Brien from third.  In the bottom of the second, Jacob Tillotson singled to center to score Zach Alvord.

Stillman broke into the scoring column in the top of the third inning.  With one out, Kameron McCreless singled through the right side to score Chris Brown, who was hit by pitch.  The next batter, Nick Baldeli-Boggs singled to center field to score Kyle Smith, who reached on a single.  With runners on second and third, the Tigers tried the squeeze play with two outs, but a close play a first ended the threat.

Smith approached the plate to open the top of the fifth inning and hit a towering shot to right field.  But the Florida winds kept the ball inside the part as the Tampa right fielder made the catch on the warning track, silencing the temporary cheers of the Stillman faithful in attendance.

In the bottom of the fifth, Zimmerman hit a shot to right center field scoring Connor Obrochta and Tillotson and giving Tampa a 4-2 lead after five innings of play.

In the top of the sixth inning, T.J. Rock singled to open the inning before being replaced by Cameron Stallings.  Stallings advanced to second on a Jordan Creel sacrifice bunt before stealing third.  DH Ken Perkey then singled to right to score Stallings.  Tanaka then singled to right advancing Perkey to third, giving the Tigers runners on the corners with one out.  However, a double play in the middle infield would end the scoring threat.

Tyler Colvert replaced Tyler Vails on the mound for Stillman in the bottom of the second and quickly struck out the side.  Dustin Dunn opened the top of the seventh with a single up the middle.  Two batters later, McCreless would double down the left field line to score Dunn and tie the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Stillman picked up two quick outs before allowing a walk.  After a stolen base, a throwing error scored Gawrych to give Tampa a 5-4 lead.  In the bottom of the inning, after two outs, Kyle Smith drew a walk against SSC Pitcher of the Year Mike Adams.  Adams was dominant in relief sitting down six Tiger pitchers on seven pitches entering the inning.  With a runner on first, a Tampa fielding error put Tigers on first and second with two outs.  However, a groundout to the second baseman ended the threat and the game.

In the contest, Seth Booth finished the game going 3-for-5 while McCreless and Ken Perkey each had two hits. On the mound, SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year Tyler Vails got the start, working five innings allowing four runs and two walks while striking out one. Tyler Colvert (2-3) worked three innings, surrendering one hit, one run (unearned) and a walk while striking out four.

Stillman (30-15) returns to action to take on the loser of the Delta State / Valdosta State o
n Friday, May 17 at 11 am.

Box Score

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