Albany, GA - In a thrilling upset, the Albany State Golden Rams secured a statement 8-6 victory over the No. 1 ranked University of Tampa Spartans on Tuesday at the West Campus Baseball Field. The Golden Rams, now 14-12 on the season, used a clutch eighth-inning rally to overcome the Spartans, handing them just their fourth loss of the season (20-4).
 
The game started with fireworks from both teams as Tampa struck first with an RBI single in the top of the first. Albany State quickly responded in the bottom half when Matt Delay tripled and later scored on an Austin Roberts RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Spartans applied pressure early, adding three runs in the second inning with a solo home run by Valdez and a two-run shot from Stella, pushing Tampa ahead 4-1. The Golden Rams clawed back in the bottom of the third, with Delay's RBI double and a bases-loaded walk making it a 4-3 contest.
 
After trading runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Tampa held a slim 6-4 lead going into the eighth inning.
 
With the game on the line, Albany State delivered in the bottom of the eighth. Emory Stephens led off with a single, followed by a Nathan Saavedra walk and an Isaiah Haygood walk to load the bases. That set the stage for Delay, who blasted a clutch grand slam over the left-field wall to give the Golden Rams an 8-6 lead, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
 
Golden Rams reliever Gercal Reyes, who pitched the final two innings, shut down the Spartans in the ninth, securing the upset victory. Reyes (2-0) picked up the win, allowing just two hits while striking out two in his dominant relief appearance.
 
Matt Delay led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a home run, a triple, and a double. Austin Roberts and Luke Addison each contributed key RBI hits to keep Albany State in striking distance. Gercal Reyes provided crucial late-game pitching, keeping Tampa off the board in the final two innings.
 
Up Next
The Golden Rams will look to build on their momentum as they return to SIAC play this weekend. Albany State travels to Columbia, S.C., for a three-game conference series against Benedict College, beginning with a doubleheader on March 22 and concluding with a single game on March 23.
 
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently field teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football. All teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.