Trio of Doubles Not Enough for the Bulls
February 28, 2009 | Baseball
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FORT MYERS -- Despite three players hitting a double and one with a triple, the University of South Florida baseball team lost 8-3 to Florida Gulf Coast Saturday evening at the FGCU Classic.
Freshman Sam Mende, junior Peter Brotons and senior Trey Manz each recorded a double while senior Chris Rey tagged his first triple of the season in the Bulls' (2-4) sixth game of the year.
FGCU (4-3) pitcher Chris Sale earned the win while USF sophomore Kevin Quackenbush was tagged with the loss. Quackenbush pitched two innings, giving up four runs from two hits, walked four and struck out two of his 12 batters.
USF's starting pitcher, sophomore Derrick Stultz, pitched 5.1 innings, leaving the game in the sixth after a visit with Coach Lazer Collazo and athletic trainer Josh Herran. Stultz struck out five, allowing three runs from five hits and walking five.
Brotons, 2-for-3, and sophomore Stephen Hunt, 2-for-4, each had a pair of hits in the game.
Sophomore Ryan Lockwood didn't have a hit in the game, but extended his on-base streak to 50 games.
USF got on the board first, scoring one run in the third, but FGCU tallied three in the bottom of the inning to take the 3-1 lead. USF tied it up in the sixth with a pair of runs, then FGCU matched the Bulls with two of their own to regain the lead, 5-3. The Eagles extended their lead by two more in the eighth.
With one out in the third, Brotons doubled down the left field line then scored on a single by senior outfielder Mike Consolmagno.
FGCU drew four walks and had a pair of hits, scoring three runs, before Stultz struck out two batters to end the inning.
Both teams scored a pair of runs in the sixth, combining for four hits. USF scored first as sophomore Jonathan Koscso singled through the left side then scored on senior outfielder Chris Rey's triple. The three-bagger is Rey's first of the season and fourth of his USF career. Rey scored after redshirt freshman Todd Brazeal drew a walk, then sophomore designated hitter Stephen Hunt grounded into a double play.
FGCU added three in the eighth, drawing a pair of one-out walks to start the inning, then driving in three with back-to-back singles.
USF battled back in the ninth as Hunt singled to the left side, but left the field with the help of athletic trainer Josh Herran. Sophomore Junior Carlin came in to pinch run for Hunt. With one out, Trey Manz hit what looked to be a homerun to straight-away center field, but the ball bounced off the top of the fence and back onto the field, recording a double for the senior catcher. Senior Brandon Smith stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter, drawing a walk and loading the bases. Sophomore Ryan Lockwood faced a bases loaded, two-out, down by five situation, but was forced into a fielder's choice ground out to the second baseman to end the game.
The Bulls wrap up the Florida Gulf Coast Classic in Fort Myers on Sunday at noon against Towson. The game will be played at Terry Field in downtown Fort Myers. Junior righty Shawn Sanford is expected to start on the hill for the Bulls.
