TAMPA -Powered by three home runs, No. 1-ranked Florida (11-2) proved to be too much for the University of South Florida baseball team Wednesday night as the Bulls dropped an 8-1 decision at a sold out USF Baseball Stadium.

A USF Baseball record 3,211 fans packed the stands, giving the program its first sell-out crowd at the new stadium.

The attendance eclipsed the old mark of 3,126 set in the home opener on Feb. 25 against Elon.

The Bulls struggled to produce any timely hits, while the Gators built up their lead with the long ball, then ran away with it, tacking on two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Senior Junior Carlin did it all for USF Wednesday night, as he started on the mound for the first time since 2008 and hit in the two hole of the Bulls line-up. He was able to blow fastballs by Florida hitters early on but was touched up with two outs in the second on back-to-back homeruns.

In his first start of the season, Carlin lasted four and 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and registering four strikeouts. He was relieved by senior Doug Wagner, who gave up a two-run homer with two outs in the sixth.

"We can win with guys like Junior Carlin," said Coach Lelo Prado. "The guy is a competitor and we need more of those guys."

Freshman right fielder James Ramsay hit his second homerun of the season in the bottom of the second to give the Bulls a boost, following Florida's three-run second. Ironically, Ramsay's first homer also came against the Gators' Wednesday night starter Alex Panteliodis in game one of the regular season at Florida.

Ramsay has had at least one hit and one RBI in seven straight games. In the third, he put his defensive skills on display as well when he hosed down a Florida base runner who was trying to tag from second.

But in the end, Florida's big bats were too much for USF, who stranded six runners and was outhit 12-8 in the game. The team simply could not hit with runners in scoring position.  

"Our pitching is not our problem. We've got to make plays on defense, and if you get guys in scoring position, you've got to do your job," Prado added.

It was Florida's fourth win in as many games against USF as they swept the season series.


USF will remain home for a weekend series against Evansville with the first game on Friday night at 7 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m.

Game Notes
Tonight's attendance was 3,211... The game was played in 2:49... The home run for Ramsay was his second of the season... The home run came off UF starter Alex Panteliodis, the same pitcher who he homered off of in the season opener... In his first at-bat of the season, Alex Mendez singled to center... Freshman Anthony Diaz made his first career start, playing leftfield and hitting ninth... The start on the mound for Carlin was his first since March of 2008 vs. Oklahoma... It was just the second start of his career.