Game Box | Season Stats   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E MU 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 9 1 USF 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 - 5 10 1 Pitching IP H R ER BB SO W - Barbosa (1-1) 6.1 6 2 1 2 9 L - French (0-3) 1.1 4 1 1 0 0 SV - Quackenbush (2) 1.1 3 0 0 0 4 Batting Leaders AB R H RBI BB Misc. MU - Carrol 5 1 3 2 0 -- USF - Falla 3 0 2 1 0 - Up Next: vs. Mercer | March 21 | 10 a.m. | Tampa, Fla.

TAMPA- The University of South Florida baseball team got an outstanding start from junior Andrew Barbosa and used timely hitting in a 5-3 win over Mercer to even up the series on Saturday night at Red McEwen Field.

Looking for his first collegiate win, the 6'8 lefty used a devastating curve ball to keep the hot-hitting Mercer line-up off-balance all night. Barbosa would go 6.1 innings, striking out a nine Bears while scattering six hits and walking just two batters.  He allowed two runs with only one being earned. Barbosa dropped his team-best ERA to 3.23 and improved to 1-1 on the season.

Barbosa opened the game by retiring the first seven batters and faced just two over the minimum through five innings.

While Barbosa cruised on the mound, USF would get the bats going at the plate and give the southpaw some run support.

The Bulls opened the scoring in the first inning as sophomore first baseman Todd Brazeal collected an RBI single on a bloop shot to center, which scored Jonathan Koscso from third. Koscso reached base after being hit by a pitch for the 40th time in his career, which moved him into a tie for fourth place in the USF career record books. He is now tied with Bryan Hierlemier.

The Bulls would chase Mercer starter Justice French who received a quick hook after just 1.1 innings and 32 pitches.

USF then tacked on one in the third thanks to a RBI single from Junior Carlin.

USF would put up two on the board in the fourth and extend the lead to 4-0. After a single by Chad Taylor and a double by Ryan Lockwood put runners on second and third with one out, Koscso would send a fly ball to right field which scored Taylor and advanced Lockwood to third.

USF then picked up its third two-out RBI of the game as Stephen Hunt connected on his eighth double. On the season, Hunt has a team best 17 runs batted in.

After being held scoreless through the first five innings, Mercer finally got to Barbosa. The Bears used an error by Todd Brazeal and a pair singles to cut the lead to 4-1.

It wouldn't take long for the Bulls to answer.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth, freshman Jimmy Falla answered by crushing the first pitch of the frame over the left field wall to give the Bulls a 5-1 advantage. The homer was the first of Falla's collegiate career.

For the seventh time in nine games, USF collected double digit hits as a team with Brazeal, Falla and Carlin all picking up two hits apiece to lead the offensive effort.

Barbosa returned for the seventh, but could not finish the inning.

After giving up an RBI ground out to Nick Dimauro, reliever Joe Cole minimized the damage by getting Mike Langley to send a lazy fly ball to Lockwood in center for the final out of the seventh inning.

Cole would give up a run in eighth and with one out closer Kevin Quackenbush came in for the five-out save.  After walking the bases loaded Quackenbush, struck out the final two-batters preserve the two run lead heading to the ninth.

In the ninth, Mercer used a walk and a single to bring the tying run to the plate but Quackenbush used an overpowering fastball to strike out the side and record his second save of the season.

With the win USF moves to 6-13 on the season and will now look to win their first series of the season when they host Mercer on Sunday at 10 a.m. the series finale. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but due to threatening weather due to hit the Bay Area the game was moved up.

In the finale, junior RHP Matt Stull will make his second straight Sunday start with hopes of having a repeat performance of his last outing against Eastern Illinois on 3/15. He will be opposed by Mercer LHP David Randall. 

Gamenotes
Barbosa's nine strikeouts were one shy of his season and career-high of 10 which he set against Michigan on 2/28… Barbosa through a season-high 102 pitches tonight… With the win, USF moves to 1-9 in games decided by two runs or less and 1-3 in games that are decided by two runs…USF is 4-3 when hitting a homerun and 5-4 when USF outhits their opposition… With Sam Mende out for the next 2-3 weeks, Jonathan Koscso made his fourth straight start at short stop… Koscso was hit by pitch in the first inning for the 40th time in his career which moves him into a tie for fourth place on the school's all-time hit-by-pitch list. He is now tied with Brian Hierlmeier (2002-05)… After hitting in the leadoff spot for the previous 12 games, Junior Carlin bumped down to the No. 6 slot in the order and responded by going 2-for-4 with an RBI… The save marked the eighth of Quackenbush's career.... He also struck a season high five batters… For the third straight game, USF combined for double digit strikeouts… Over the last three games, USF pitching has struck out 39 batters.