TAMPA -- By sweeping last Saturday's doubleheader against Lynn, not only did the baseball team overcome its loss in the series opener against the Knights, but the Spartans solidified their grip on the top spot in the Sunshine State Conference.

The Spartans, ranked 26th by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, bounced back from a 7-6 loss in the opener to sweep Saturday's doubleheader 15-8 and 2-1.

All totaled, UT posted a 3-1 record for the week, also defeating Nova Southeastern 18-4.

In four games, junior Gene Reynolds batted .474 (9-for-19) with 3 doubles, a home run, 7 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a stolen base to pace the Spartans' attack.

Reynolds posted a pair of 3-for-5 games and recorded 15 total bases in four games.

In the first game of the doubleheader, freshman Corey Keegan came out of the bullpen trailing 8-5 in the fifth inning and tossed five shutout innings.

Keegan scattered four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one, giving UT a chance to chip away and post a 15-8 win. Billy Wimberly, the only Spartan hitting over .400, returned to his spot behind the plate after not catching in nearly two months.

UT is 17-6 in its past 23 games, 21-16 overall and 7-2 in the SSC. Second-place Florida Southern is 30-8 overall and 6-3 in league play.

UT hosts Barry in a three-game series this weekend.

SOFTBALL: The Spartans split four games last week to slump to 8-8 in Sunshine State Conference play and fourth place in the league.

But all was not lost. Pitcher Christy Exizian recorded her fifth shutout of the season, leading the Spartans to a 1-0 victory against Florida Tech. Stephanie McKenzie leads the club with a .415 average and heads a group of Tampa players batting above .300. The others are Kristen Abbott (.335 average, 39 hits), Lacinda Norman (.324, 20 RBIs) and Kristin Law (.311, three home runs).

UT, which is 15-3 at home this season, hosts Lynn and Barry in doubleheaders this weekend.

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