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MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Tampa finished one win short of the 2003 NCAA Division II national championship, losing to Central Missouri State 11-4 in the title game Saturday at Paterson Field.
The Spartans (44-19) rallied from three runs down to take a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning on home runs from Tim Duff and Jay Hyland. But Central Missouri scored two in the fifth, one in the seventh and five in the eighth for the win.
"After we scored those four runs I thought we were back in it and in great position," Tampa coach Joe Urso said. "When they went ahead we thought we would climb back into it, but they did an excellent job with the bats."
Tampa's Jay Hyland was named the tournament's most valuable player after hitting .450 (9-for-20) with three home runs, including a mammoth shot in the semifinal against Franklin Pierce.
"I would trade it for the championship ring in a minute," Hyland said. "I'd give it back to get this win."
CMSU (51-7) scored two in the first on a Danny Guidry leadoff homer and an infield hit by Stephen Downey for a 2-0 lead.
In the second the Mules added a run on a home run by DH Tommy Bryant before Tampa scored four in the fourth on home runs by Duff and Hyland.
CMSU took the lead for good with two in the sixth, with the big hit coming from Guidry with two outs.
The Mules added another in the seventh and five in the eighth, which was highlighted by homers from Boomer Berry and Joe Strada.
Danny Powers picked up his 10th victory of the season, pitching seven innings. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits and struck out four. Eric Beattie was the losing pitcher for the Spartans, giving up five runs on nine hits. He struck out four.