TAMPA, Fla. - Saint Leo Baseball battled NCBWA #2 Tampa on Friday night at UT Baseball Field and came up on the losing end for the first time in eleven games, 7-1. 

The Lions and Spartans went scoreless for the first four innings with starter Jared Beck striking out nine Tampa hitters through the first four innings. However, a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff triple gave Tampa the first run of the ballgame. Tampa was then able to produce two-out offense in the bottom of the sixth to add three to their lead and make it 4-0 Tampa. 

Mike Wyman got Saint Leo on the board in the eighth with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot that cut the lead to 4-1. But the Spartans came right back and added on three more to extend their lead to 7-1. 

The Lions were able to threaten Tampa all night with seven hits, three doubles and a triple. The Spartans, however, kept 13 Lions runners at bay on the basepaths. 

Saint Leo saw another great performance from starter Jared Beck. He went six innings giving up four runs on six hits, but was still able to strikeout 11 batters and walk just one to keep the game within reach for the Lions. 

The Lions now fall to 17-8 on the season and 5-5 in SSC play before taking on Tampa again in a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one at 1:00.