The University of Tampa baseball team has overcome a lot this season. It is not the typical Tampa team that hits home runs and dominates opponents. Instead, it is a team that has grown throughout the course of the season and has learned how to scratch out victories in close games.
“We were playing excellent,” said Head Coach Joe Urso, who is in his eleventh season as the Spartan skipper. “We won something like 14 of 16 games, and then ran into a five game losing streak. I think that’s the longest losing streak we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
After an impressive stretch for Tampa, winning 14 of 16 like Urso alluded to, the team lost 7-6 to Embry-Riddle. That loss wouldn’t have been as tough of a blow had the team been able to bounce back from that upset. The Spartans then lost a tough conference matchup against Barry, falling 7-6 in 12 innings after blowing a lead. They then lost both games of a doubleheader on Saturday April 16, and in doing so, got swept in an Sunshine State Conference series for the first time since 2004.
“That Saturday was the only day all season that I was really upset with the team,” Urso admitted.
The Spartans needed to do well against Barry, the team which leads the SSC, because UT lost two of three to Nova Southeastern in March, who they also trail. Instead, the sweep left UT with a 1-5 record against two of three teams ahead of them in the conference.
This past weekend, the Spartans stumbled into Florida Southern — ranked second in the SSC with an 11-4 conference record — suffering a 6-2 loss.
“You just have to tip your hat to the pitcher for Friday’s game,” said Urso. “He was awesome.”
FSC’s Gus Schlosser held Tampa to just two runs on four hits in the seven innings he pitched in Friday night’s contest.
On Saturday, the team was able to turn things around, sweeping the doubleheader with scores of 11-6 and 6-5.
“After going down 3-0 in the second game, we were able to battle back and scrap together a big win,” said Urso. “We lost the conference against Barry, so since then we’ve been focusing solely on regionals.”
The team has been plagued with injuries all year. Star pitcher Evan Stobbs as well as position player Taylor Wrenn are just two of many players who have had to miss extended periods of time this season. “It seems like when one guy gets healthy, two more get hurt,” said Urso. “But we’re resilient and we get new guys stepping up every game. Look at Saturday for instance; Ryan Kennedy really stepped up coming out of the bullpen. That was huge.”
Kennedy tossed 3.1 innings, giving up one run in the 6-5 victory.
This team is much different than last year’s team as well. Nine Spartans were drafted in Major League Baseball, with a tenth being signed as a free agent.
“This year, we returned only one position player who played a lot last year, in Patrick Donahue. Only Stobbs and Aaron Gerbasi pitched a lot last year,” said Urso, who still shows faith in his new-look team. “I’m very pleased with the progress. I think the guys understand what it takes to win, and the importance of putting on a University of Tampa jersey.”
With the program claiming two National Championships under Urso’s coaching, back to back in ‘06 and ‘07, as well as a title run last season, the postseason always seems to be a time for the Spartans to impress. While the team has battled injuries and, in general, a new roster, Urso believes that the team still has a shot to contend once the regional tournament rolls around in mid-May.
“We’re not dominant,” Urso admitted. “But you don’t have to be dominant to win a national championship.With Stobbs healthy, and everybody coming around at the right time, teams are going to be talking about us as being a very dangerous team. We will be ready.”
The team has six home games left in the season, with three of those being conference contests. The Spartans are currently sitting at fourth in the SSC, and have a 30-14 overall record.
John Hilsenroth can be reached at jhilsenroth@spartans.ut.edu.