Coming off a disappointing series loss, the Spartans’ baseball team looked to rebound with a series win against conference rivals Florida Southern College (FSC). The Spartans took care of business at home with a sweep of the FSC Mocs, resulting in UT’s 8th SSC Championship since 2000.
Head Coach Joe Urso was very satisfied with the ending of the 2009 regular season and winning the conference title.
“To finish it off at home like we did, scoring the amount of runs we did on Friday night, and then pulling off a sweep, this means a lot,” said Urso. “[It] sends us into the tournament with some momentum, which is very important.”
It was momentum that the Spartans lacked entering the series with FSC, as they had dropped their previous weekend series to another conference opponent, Barry.
After a towering home run from lead-off man Tyler Cox on the first pitch, the Spartans coasted to a 25-6 victory over the Mocs in game one. Urso said that the early home run served as a catalyst for the Spartan’s success throughout the rest of the evening.
“I just thought the way Tyler Cox led off that game, the very first pitch, to hit a home run like he did, just gave us a tremendous amount of confidence and momentum as we went through that ballgame and did so well,” said Urso.
While the Spartans did not score as many runs in the following two contests, they took the Saturday double header, and thus a series sweep of the Mocs. Urso credited the sweep over FSC to the weekend’s starting pitchers for the Spartans, John Wiedenbauer, Josh Bowman and AJ Pinera, for their strong efforts.
“They just set the tone for us all weekend long. They were outstanding,” said Urso. “They located their spots [and] they got us deep into the ballgames.”
Spartan senior Brett McKean, the lone man on the roster who has been with UT’s baseball program all four years, serves as a role player and spot starter on the team. However, with the second game of the Saturday double header potentially being the final home game of his collegiate career, Urso gave McKean the start in left field.
Making the most of the opportunity, McKean went 3-4 with 4 rbi and 2 runs. McKean was appreciative and prideful of getting the start on the last day of the regular season.
“It was a great experience,” said McKean. “Especially on senior day to come in there, my last game at home if we don’t host [the regional tournament], and to do what I did, it was a great accomplishment.”
The Spartans are now set to compete for the NCAA South Regional Tournament, and have an outside chance of hosting the event. It will all come down to Southern Arkansas’ final week of conference play, who currently sit tied at the No. 3 spot in the national rankings, one behind UT.
Regardless of their ranking, Coach Urso said that the tough opponents they face on a weekly basis during the regular season will prepare the Spartans for the regional tournament.
“We attack the best teams in the country and I think that prepares us. We’re used to being in close games late and we know how to deal with the pressure late,” Urso said.
Not only were Urso and the Spartans crowned the SSC Champions with their series win over FSC, but they also accomplished another feat. With an overall record of 42-8, the Spartans have reached the 40 win mark for the 8th consecutive season.
For Coach Urso, reaching 40 wins provides a lot of insight into what the Spartan’s have been able to accomplish this season.
“When you the play the type of competition that we play, it’s not easy to hit 40. It just says a lot for where our team’s at right now,” said Urso.
McKean, who was part of the Spartans’ last National Championship team back in 2007, attributes UT’s winning season to each individual player accepting his role on the team.
“I think everybody’s come to the point which they’ve understood their roles,” said McKean.
McKean also said that now all of his teammates are finding their niche on the team, he gets the same type of feeling as he did when part of the National Championship squad.
“It’s very identical,” McKean said. “It’s kind of a calm feeling I have that maybe we have another shot at this thing.”
The NCAA South Regional Tournament gets underway May 13, which leaves the Spartans with a few idle weeks. However, Urso has three exhibition games scheduled against some local community colleges with elite baseball programs. After a week off for exams, the Spartans will play inter squad games.
As the days pass, the Spartans get closer to reaching another National Championship. McKean said that if the Spartans can continue to play the way they did in the latest FSC series, then opposing teams better look out.
“If we play how we did this weekend, nobody can touch us,” McKean said.