| |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
|
EIU
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5
|
8
|
2
|
|
USF
|
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8
|
12
|
0
|
| Pitching |
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
SO
|
| W - Stull (1-1) |
5.2
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
| L - McNeil (0-1) |
2.2
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
| SV - Quackenbush (1) |
1.0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
| Batting Leaders |
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
BB
|
Misc.
|
| EIU - Ferguson |
5
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2B
|
| USF - Hunt |
5
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
HR
|
|
|
Up Next:
vs. Central Florida| March 16 | 7 p.m. | Orlanda, Fla.
|
|
|
TAMPA- Junior outfielder Stephen Hunt powered the offense while junior RHP Matt Stull delivered 5.2 solid innings for the University of South Florida baseball team, which opened up an 8-0 lead through the first three innings on Eastern Illinois then held off the Panthers for an 8-5 win.
Hunt continued his assault on opposing pitching by collecting another three hits on the day, including a opposite field two-run home run in the second inning and a pair of singles. Hunt's average entering this week was .227 and in the five-game stretch, the right fielder managed to increase his batting to .303 by hitting .476 over the week.
With his home run Sunday afternoon, Hunt took sole possession of the team's lead in four-baggers with three. In the week, Hunt had five extra base hits, scored eight runs, and knocked in eight more.
Making his second start of the season, Stull rebounded nicely from a shaky outing in Norman against Stephen F. Austin. Stull opened the game by retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced and not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. The win marked the first of the season for Stull, evening his record at 1-1. Stull worked 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on just four hits while striking out three.
For the first time in five games, USF struck first in the scoring category and would jump out to a first-inning 4-0 lead. Coming into the game, USF had been outscored 18-6 in the first inning of games this season.
With one out in the inning, OF Ryan Lockwood singled to center and advanced to third and scored on an RBI ground out by Jonathan Koscso, who played shortstop and moved up to the No. 3 spot in the order in place of Sam Mende who was given the day off after being hit in the head by a pitch on Saturday.
The Bulls extended their lead by scoring three more in the frame. After Hunt singled, followed by a free pass issued to sophomore Todd Brazeal, freshman Jimmy Falla drove a first pitch fast ball to the gap in right to score both runners. Falla eventually scored on a ground ball through the left side off the bat of sophomore Daniel Rockhold. On the day, Rockhold collected three hits in four at-bats and scored a run while making a number of nice plays at third base.
With a pinch single in Game 1 of Saturday's double-header, Rockhold is five for his last eight at the plate and raised his average to .240 on the season.
USF added three more runs in the second, first on a sacrifice fly from Lockwood which scored sophomore Luis Llerena who doubled to start the inning. Then, with two down in the inning, Koscso singled up the middle and would then score on Hunt's third home run of the season.
For the game, USF would do all its scoring in the first three innings and would tack on one run in the third on an RBI single from Junior Carlin to score Rockhold. Carlin's single completed USF's scoring and from there it would be on the pitching staff.
In the fourth inning, EIU touched Stull for a run after Zach Borenstein scored on an RBI single from Richie Derbak after a lead-off double. The Panther's would go on to score one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh but in the eighth and ninth USF relievers shut the door on the Panthers.
Making his first appearance of the season, junior Kyle Eastham worked 2.1 innings of relief of Stull. Eastham struck out five but gave up two runs on three hits. Both runs were earned.
Heading into the ninth with 8-5 lead, Bulls head coach Lelo Prado turned to junior Kevin Quackenbush, who had blown his previous two save opportunities, but who worked a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one Panther.
USF outhit the Panthers 12-8 on the afternoon.
With the win, the Bulls move to 4-12 on the season.
Following the three game set with Eastern Illinois, USF will head east on I-4 to Orlando to take on Central Florida on March 16 at 7 p.m., in a game that will be televised on Bright House Sports. Senior Teddy Kaufman is scheduled to start for the Bulls. He will be opposed by LHP Brian Adkins.
The Bulls will return to Tampa for their next seven games including their conference opening series against Notre Dame on March 26-28.
Game Notes
- With his second inning home run, Stephen Hunt became the team leader in home runs with three. He also leads the team in runs scored (17) and runs driven in (15). The homer is the 14th of his career.
- Junior Kevin Quackenbush recorded his first save of the 2010 season on Sunday afternoon. Quackenbush worked a scoreless ninth allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one Panther. The save is the seventh of his career.
- Matt Stull picked up his first win of the 2010 campaign and improved to 1-1 on the year. Stull is the second starting pitcher for the Bulls this week to leave the game and record a win. In his career, Stull is 8-3.
- SS Sam Mende was not in the line-up today for the Bulls after being hit in the head with pitch in Saturday's doubleheader. He was available and is expected to return to the line-up against UCF on Tuesday.
