By Terry Hunsicker
TAMPA, Fla. — The University of Tampa Spartan baseball team celebrated its ninth national championship on Friday, Jan. 31, with a back-and-forth 5-4 win over Georgia College & State University highlighted by third baseman Kevin Karstetter’s two-run triple and a walk-off single.
Senior Karstetter led the UTampa Spartans to a win on banner night, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs while avoiding an ejection after a collision at home plate during the bottom of the seventh inning.
On his approach to the plate before hitting the game-tying triple, Karstetter said the following after the game: “You just get to the next pitch. Get to the next pitch until you get a fastball.”
Before the game, several members of the 2024 Spartans national championship team were honored, with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II all-time hits leader and new Spartan alumni E.J. Cumbo throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
On returning to Tampa for the pregame ceremony, Cumbo said, “Being here with the guys and team, it’s something special.”
Reigning National Pitcher of the Year Skylar Gonzalez started the game for the Spartans, pitching four innings while collecting six strikeouts and allowing two runs on a fourth-inning homer by right fielder Hank Noonan in his 2025 debut.
“I thought he did a good job, just didn’t hit his spots like he normally does,” said head coach Joe Urso after the game.
The Spartans were quick to respond in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two runs off Georgia College starting pitcher and preseason All-American John Luke Glanton with the aid of back-to-back errors by second baseman Gabe Wuerth. Georgia College responded by taking a two-run lead in the sixth inning after two throwing errors in the same play by Spartan second baseman Nico Saladino and shortstop J.D. Urso.
Prior to the game, Georgia College head coach Nolan Belcher described the importance of a well-played game: “Take care of the baseball, just play a good clean game and hopefully that gives us a chance to make some noise there at the end.”
Senior Edgardo Villegas reached first base with a single. J.D. Urso walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, putting runners at first and second base for Karstetter, who tied the game with a hard-hit triple down the right field line. The following batter, senior Lenny Ashby, hit a ball towards the Georgia College shortstop who was quick to throw to the catcher protecting home plate from Karstetter who ran on contact.
Karstetter collided with Georgia College catcher Rand Bestermann at home and was called out by the home plate umpire. Coach Urso argued with the officials, claiming that the catcher had illegally blocked the plate and not allowed a lane for Karstetter to score. As the argument continued, Karstetter shoved past a Georgia College player while walking back to the dugout, nearly escalating the encounter.
“Call didn’t go in our favor, but luckily there was no ejections cause it was, you know, it was a heated moment,” head coach Urso commented after the game.
Karstetter also stated following the game, “Nothing really, just was blocking the plate and said some words to me.”
Spartans pitcher Ethan Brown drew a four-pitch strikeout and two-pitch groundout to avoid Georgia College from scoring in the eighth inning with bases loaded, and senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Fletcher struck out one batter in the top of the ninth in relief to maintain a 4-4 game.
Pinch hitter Cole Russo led the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff double and was lifted for pinch runner Dennis McCaffery. Villegas walked, and J. D. Urso struck out after attempting to lay down a bunt. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Karstetter hit a ball up the middle of the field that allowed McCaffery to score the winning run.
“Just hit the ball hard up the middle of the field,” Karstetter said. “There’s a lot of hits up there, so just stay in the middle.”
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Thumbnail Image Caption: UTampa senior third baseman Kevin Karstetter at-bat. Photo by Lexi Smith.