By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - The Bulls will give securing a series win another shot Sunday.

Starter Andrew Barbosa's road back to top form hit some bumps while USF's bats didn't do enough damage in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Bethune-Cookman before a crowd of 1,215 at the USF baseball stadium.

USF (4-2) started its first home series of the season with an 8-5 win Friday that featured 10 hits, including a home run by Jimmy Falla. The Bulls managed three hits Saturday and were plagued by nine walks from their pitching staff.

"It's disappointing after yesterday coming out and playing a great ball game," USF head coach Lelo Prado said. "When you walk eight or nine you are in trouble. We have to play a lot better if we want to be a great team."

Wildcats starter Gabriel Hernandez (1-1) allowed two hits, two earned runs and struck out six in six innings. No. 1 starter Scott Garner gave up a hit and a run in the seventh and Jairo Acevedo secured the win with two scoreless frames.

"They threw their best arms, their No. 1 pitcher there late and they brought in their closer," Prado said. "(Hernandez) beat us last year and he's always been effective."

Barbosa (0-1) is still working his way back from after Tommy John surgery and rode a rollercoaster through his second start of the season. The 6-foot-8 left-hander lasted 2 1/3 innings and exited with the bases loaded and the Bulls clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Derrick Stultz came in and struck out Anthony Stokes, but gave up a two-run single up to the middle to Jordan Taylor. The right-hander struck out Carlos Delgado to end the threat.

All earned runs were charged to Barbosa, who walked four and gave up three hits. The positives taken from the appearance were Barbosa's velocity increasing after the first inning and the senior striking out five with a mix of heat and off-speed pitches.

"He struggled in all three innings and we have to have him to be successful," said Prado, who noted Barbosa is "fine" physically at this point.

The Bulls had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Andrew Longley hit an RBI double down the left field line and Chad Taylor followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

Stultz, also coming back from an injury, scattered three hits, walked three and struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings.

"I was really happy with Derrick Stoltz. He threw the ball well and he's coming along just fine," Prado said. "He'll be ready to go as a starter next weekend."

The Wildcats extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Delgado past diving second baseman Kyle Copack with one out. Bethune-Cookman tacked two more runs on board before the half inning was completed thanks to two wild pitches from Janick Serrallonga.

USF started to chip away in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Buddy Putnam hit into a fielder's choice with runners on the corners that sent Longley home for the Bulls' third run.

That was the last of the noise from USF's offense that stranded six runners and struck out six times.

USF right-hander Devin Smith made his collegiate debut in the eighth and pitched a scoreless frame with a walk. The freshman went 11-2 with a 2.94 ERA last year for King High School in Tampa.

Smith remained in the game in the ninth and give up an RBI double to Josh Johnson down the right field line, but his whole body of work impressed his head coach.

"He's wanted the ball for a while and we can build on that outing with him," Prado said.

Senior left-hander Matt Reed will make his second appearance of the season 1 p.m. Sunday when he starts the series finale back at the USF baseball stadium.