Box Score PDF | Season Statistics

Sunday, April 27, 2008   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final VU  1  0  0  4  0  0  4  0  0  9 USF  0  1  0  1  4  0  1  0  0  7   Saturday, April 26, 2008   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final VU  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  4 USF  5  5  3  1  3  0  3  0  x  20   Friday, April 25, 2008   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Final VU  0  0  1  0  0  0  3  0  1  5 USF  0  1  1  2  3  1  0  0  x  8

TAMPA, Fla. ? Despite a fifth-inning grand slam by freshman Stephen Hunt, the University of South Florida (24-20, 10-11) baseball team was downed, 9-7, by Villanova (21-22, 6-12) Sunday afternoon at Red McEwen Field.

Hunt, along with classmate Ryan Lockwood again led the Bulls offensively, combining for five hits, including a double, triple and grand slam, four runs scored and five RBI.

"Both of those guys are baseball players," said USF head coach Lelo Prado. "They know how to compete and be successful. Both of those guys have done a great job this year."

Hunt, the designated hitter, was 3-for-4 in the game, and, for the second consecutive game, was just one hit shy of hitting for the cycle. On Saturday, he needed a home run and on Sunday he was a double short of the milestone. In Sunday's game he collected five RBI, increasing his total to 11 for the weekend. This week, Hunt batted .571 in five games, posting a  1.238 slugging percentage with four doubles, a pair of triples and two home runs, one of which was today's grand slam.

"Hunt had a great weekend, he hit the ball hard," said Prado. "He is a freshman who is getting better every game he plays. He's been everything we had thought he would be. He's just a gamer, he knows how to play the game."

Freshman Ryan Lockwood, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks in Sunday's game, doubled down the right line in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 27 games. Lockwood outlasted junior James Keithley, from the University of Texas San Antonio, who was riding one of the longest current streaks in the country. Keithley saw his 27-game streak end on Wednesday, April 23. Lockwood's streak is the longest in the BIG EAST this season, surpassing West Virginia's Tyler Kuhn, who tagged a hit in 24 consecutive games earlier this season.

"When Lockwood decided he was coming to USF, we knew we were getting a good baseball player," said Prado. "He just knows how to play the game."

After Villanova scored one run in the first, USF tied the game with one of their own in the second. The Wildcats tallied four in the fourth, but the Bulls answered with one in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the 6-5 lead. VU added four in the seventh, then USF tacked on one more in the bottom of the inning to set the game at 9-7.

USF's second-inning run came after freshman Jonathan Koscso singled to center field, then junior Trey Manz drove him in with a double down the left line. In the fourth Hunt tripled to center, then Koscso grounded out to shortstop, collecting his 20th RBI of the season on the play.

In the fifth, junior Addison Maruszak doubled to center field then Lockwood and senior Joey Angelberger drew walks to load the bases. Hunt then rocketed his third home run of the year, his first grand slam, over the right field wall to put the Bulls ahead 6-5.

Lockwood's first hit of the game was a double down the right line in the seventh, then the freshman scored USF's final run when Hunt singled to left field.

USF saw six pitchers take the mound in the game, including four freshmen, a senior and one sophomore. Freshman right-hander Derrick Stultz held the Wildcats hitless through the first three innings, but was relived in the fourth after allowing five runs from three hits over the next two-thirds of an inning. Freshman Matt Stull tossed three innings in relief, striking out a pair of his 12 batters faced, but giving up two runs after walking three to take his second loss of the season.

USF continues it seven-game homestand on Tuesday, April 29 when UCF comes to Red McEwen Field. The Bulls and Knights face off at 7 p.m., then USF turns around to host Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday at the same time and place.