TAMPA- Eight shutout innings by junior LHP Matt Reed and an unearned run in the fourth inning were all the University of South Florida baseball team (9-11) needed  as the Bulls defeated Bethune-Cookman, 1-0, in the finale of a four game series Sunday afternoon at the USF Baseball Stadium.

Just like Saturday's contest, the Bulls and Wildcats were locked into a pitcher's duel, but this time the Bulls would come out on top as Reed combined with closer Kevin Quackenbush to preserve the shutout.

Making his fourth start of the season and second start this week, Reed was masterful in a season-high eight  shutout innings. The 6'3 lefty kept the Bethune-Cookman line-up off balance all afternoon with an array of off-speed pitches and exceptional location.

Reed escaped the only two jams he faced all afternoon unscathed. In the fourth frame with no outs facing runners on first and third, Reed got BCU's Pat O'Brien to pop out, followed by a huge strike out of Ryan Durrence and then a fly out to center by Emmanuel Castro to end the inning and the Wildcat scoring opportunity.

Faced in a similar situation in the eighth, this time with one out, Reed got his fourth and final strike out of the day followed by a pop out to preserve the Bulls lead and keep the shutout alive.

On the afternoon, Reed scattered five hits while not walking a batter as 69 of his pitches on the afternoon found the strikezone. It marked the fourth time in as many starts that Reed has went 6.0 or more innings and the third time he has went 7.0 or more.

The Bulls did just enough offensively to come away with the win despite being out hit,5-4 by the Wildcats. The Bulls pushed across the games only run in the fourth inning.

Sophomore leftfielder, Alex Mendez led off the inning with a double to right.

With the speedy Mendez on second, Mende tried to sacrifice Mendez over, but instead of getting the sure out at first BCU pitcher Scott Garner's throw to third went into left field allowing Mendez to score the only run of the game.

It would prove to be Garner's lone mistake of the afternoon as he tossed a complete-game four hitter in the loss.

Following Reed's escape in the eigth, Bulls skipper Lelo Prado would call on Quackenbush to close it in the ninth and just like he has four times previously, Quackenbush answered. He extended his scoreless inning streak to 6.0 as he picked up his fifth save in as many chances working  a perfect ninth. He has not allowed a hit in the same span as well.

Following the four game split with Bethune-Cookman, USF will make a trip to Fort Meyers on Tuesday,  March 22 to take on Florida Gulf Coast before opening their BIG EAST Conference slate when they welcome West Virginia to the USF Baseball Stadium for a three game set on March 25-27.

Gamenotes
Today's attendance was 1,230... Today's game was played in 1:44, the fastest game for the Bulls all season... Going two-for-three on the afternoon, Andrew Longley picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season and the eigth of his career... Going 0-for-2, Sam Mende had his eighth game hit streak snapped...