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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 8, 2002
TAMPA -- The University of Tampa baseball team opened its season last weekend by winning two of three games against Lynn University, outscoring it 27-11 with plenty of solid performances spread around.
So why isn't UT coach Joe Urso smiling?
When you're the coach of a program as successful as UT (ranked sixth in Division II by Collegiate Baseball) and coming off its second consecutive Sunshine State Conference title and another Division II World Series appearance, lofty expectations are the norm.
"Execution-wise, we were okay," said Urso, who's in his second season as Spartans coach. "But there were other areas that we didn't perform well. I wasn't pleased at all with our situational hitting and we stranded too many runners and that led to our loss."
The Spartans opened the series with a 14-0 thumping of the Knights. Game 2 also went to UT, which won 9-6 before Lynn took the last game 5-4. In the finale, UT led 4-1 before giving up a four-run fourth inning. From that point, the Spartans mustered just two hits. UT (2-1) travels to Milledgeville, Ga., this weekend to take on Georgia State & College in a three-game series.
One thing Urso couldn't take issue with was his starting pitching.
Junior transfer Joey Simon was solid as the No. 1 starter, giving up two hits and striking out six in five innings. The right-hander, who played his first two seasons at the University of Florida, was immediately penciled in as the top starter and combines with Joey Watts to form a potent 1-2 in the Spartans' rotation.
Watts followed up Simon's performance with a solid one of his own, allowing five runs and striking out five in five innings. "I'm really happy with this pitching staff," Urso said. "This staff has the chance to help us win a national championship. Simon has stepped right in and showed what a big-time pitcher he can be for us."
And although the Spartans' pitching dominated the season-opening series, the offense wasn't all bad. In fact, several players had outstanding starts. Junior centerfielder Michael Burruezo racked up three doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs in the three games. Freshman designated hitter Eric Thompson went 5-for-9 with two doubles and senior rightfielder Neal Maybin added a home run. Also, Tommy Devoe, Angel Cruz and Gene Reynolds had four hits apiece and Cruz (four runs) and Reynolds (seven runs) combined for 11 runs.
But despite the good start, the Spartans are dealing with numerous injuries.
Maybin (quadriceps), Devoe (elbow) and pitcher Eric Beattie (triceps strain) are expected to miss this weekend's series. Pitcher Carrington Fisk is recovering from elbow surgery and will be evaluated in the coming weeks and shortstop Eric Mazone is expected back next week despite a nagging hip flexor injury.
"We're really banged up," Urso said. "But if you have to have injuries, this is the time of year to have them and get everyone healthy. But what we really have to do as a team is get healthy and improve on the little things you need to do to win those close things.
"Do that and we'll be all right."