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TAMPA, Fla. - A four-run seventh wasn't enough today (Feb. 9) as the Georgia College & State University baseball team (1-3) lost at No. 2 University of Tampa (4-0) 7-4.

Junior Buddy Elmore (Dallas) smacked the first home run of his Division II career, a two-run shot keying that four-run rally.

The Spartans got all the runs they would need in the fourth, snapping a scoreless tie with a five-run outburst. The big blow came in a two-run double from Brenton Cianci.

Elmore followed a Richard Pirkle (Norcross, Ga.) leadoff double in the seventh with his first home run of the season, cutting the lead to 5-2. Senior Brooks Robinson (Evans, Ga.) singled and later scored on a catcher throwing error to make it 5-3. Junior Matt Pitts (Brunswick, Ga.) walked after Robinson, scoring on a fielder's choice to get a 5-4 difference.

Tampa answered right back in the bottom half, putting two more runs on the board, stretching the game to the final 7-4. Both runs scored on a Jose Jimenez single.

Junior Dylan Lightell (Rosamond, Calif.) tossed 3 1/3 innings, picking up the loss (0-1) in his first Division II start. He allowed three runs, fanning two. Spartan Starter Josh Bowman tossed six shutout innings in the win, allowing just two hits. Game one winner Alex Koronis got the save, his first.

The Bobcats return home Friday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., hosting Philadelphia University. It will be the season opener for the Rams.

Visit www2.GCSU.edu/Bobcats to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame. The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement.