Bulls Falter Late, Drop Season Opener 6-5
February 20, 2009 | Baseball
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Clearwater, Fla. - The University of South Florida baseball team opened the 2009 season with a 6-5 loss to the Michigan Wolverines at the BIG EAST - Big Ten Challenge Friday afternoon.
The Bulls took an early 3-0 lead in the first game of the season, but Michigan answered with a pair of runs over the next two innings to keep the game close. USF added two more in the eighth, then the Wolverines collected three in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at five. Michigan sat the Bulls down in order in the top of the ninth, then scored the game-winner with a two-run single followed by a hit up the middle.
"It has got to get to a point where we execute in the eighth and ninth inning," said head coach Lelo Prado. "We had a three-run lead in the eighth inning. I don't care if it is game one or game 56, we have to win those games."
Sophomore starting right-hander Randy Fontanez pitched a gem in his 2009 debut, throwing 7 innings, striking out three, while allowing six hits, two earned runs and walking one. Fontanez also recorded two pickoffs against the Wolverines.
"I thought Randy did a very good job today," said pitching coach Lazer Collazo. "He kept his pitch count low for seven innings. He could have gone an eighth inning, but it is too early in the year to do that. He worked quick. He worked hard. I couldn't be happier with his first outing."
The Bulls jumped to an early 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the second inning.
The offense was sparked by sophomore third baseman Jonathan Koscso. Koscso, who moved from second to third in the offseason, started his 2009 campaign with two hits and a pair of runs scored in his first two plate appearances.
Sophomore Ryan Lockwood provided an offensive spark when he drove in the third run of the game on an RBI single. The hit extended Lockwood's hitting streak to 31 consecutive games. Senior Chris Rey also racked up an RBI single in the first, scoring Koscso from third and advancing Hunt to third.
The Wolverines answered early with a run in the second then added another in the fourth. The run in the second was tallied by sophomore designated hitter Jake McClouth. McClouth, brother of Pittsburgh Pirate Nate McClouth, recorded his first collegiate hit, a homerun over the right field fence, to put the game at 3-1. In the fourth, the Wolverines notched another run after a walk by Anthony Toth, then a single advanced Toth to third, and finally scored Toth on a double play to the right side.
After the run in the fourth, both teams would remain scoreless until junior college transfer second baseman Peter Brotons recorded a bases-loaded double down the left field line to give the Bulls two more runs, pushing the score to 5-2 in the middle of the eighth inning.
With USF leading 5-2 in the eighth inning, the Wolverines loaded the bases on reliever Teddy Kaufman as Michigan doubled, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. Junior Andrew Salgueiro came in for relief, striking out his first batter in his first appearance as a Bull. The Wolverines then singled to right, driving in a pair of runs to bring the game within one. A pickoff attempt by USF led to a stolen base and a tie score in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth the Bulls were held hitless, and in the bottom of the ninth, the Wolverines led off the inning with a ground rule double. A fly out to the shortstop and a strikeout looking brought the bottom of the ninth to two outs and the winning run in scoring position. A groundball up the middle allowed the run to score from second and give the Wolverines the win.
Senior catcher Trey Manz was 2-for-3 in the game, recording a double and drawing a walk.
Brandon Smith made his return to the field after his season was cut short by an injury in 2008. Smith, a senior first baseman, went 1-for-3 on the day including a walk and a single.
Freshman shortstop Sam Mende made his collegiate debut and recorded his first single in the top of the eighth inning with two on and one out.
The Bulls are back in action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. when USF faces Purdue at Bright House Network Field in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge. Watch the game on Bright House Sports Network in the Tampa Bay area, and listen to the game on tape delay on 1010 CBS Sports Radio.
