Baseball | 4/12/2002 11:21:00 PM

Box Score TAMPA, Fla. -- Despite having runners in scoring position in the ninth, the Barry University baseball team fell in the opening game of a three-game series with the Tampa Spartans 1-0 earlier this afternoon at Spartan Field.

Fernando Tapia (5-5) took the loss for the Buccaneers going the distance (eight innings) giving up one run on six hits while striking out eight. Joey Watts (6-5) earned the win for the Spartans going seven innings on the hill and striking out five. Watts also scored the Spartans only run of the night in the sixth inning.

Joey Apotheker paced the Bucs going two-for-two and two walks. Both Gene Reynolds and Billy Wimberly led the Spartans going two-for-four.

The Bucs fell to 20-16 overall and 3-7 in the Sunshine State Conference, while the Spartans improved to 22-16 and 8-3 in the SSC. Both teams are scheduled to resume action for the final two games of the conference series at 2 p.m.