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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Jimmy Falla, Chris Norton and Austin Lueck each hit
homers with two outs in a five-run seventh inning that helped the Bulls power
past Valparaiso, 7-3, and seal the series win Sunday.
Falla led USF's 10-hit attack with a 2-for-4 performance
while Norton's first-career homer was a two-run shot in the Bulls' big inning
before a crowd of 1,038 at USF baseball stadium.
Starter Joey Lovecchio got a no decision after allowing one
earned run on eight hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out five to
cap off a series of quality innings from USF starters. Jimmy Herget gave up an
earned run in seven innings of the Bulls' 3-2 win in Friday's opener. Nick
Gonzalez also gave up just one earned run in six innings of USF's 5-2 loss on
Saturday night.
USF (7-8) faced a 3-2 deficit heading into the bottom half
of the seventh before putting together a two-out rally. Falla sparked
the comeback with a two-run homer and Anthony Diaz kept things going with a
single to left field. Norton followed with the biggest swing of his college
career and Lueck produced a solo homer while pinch hitting.
Steven Leasure, Nolan Thomas and Chad Taylor kept Valparaiso
off the scoreboard in the final two innings to help USF win its season home
series of the season. Taylor earned his second save by striking out two in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless work.
Chris DeBoo (0-4) allowed six runs on nine hits in 6 2/3
innings, but only two of the runs were earned on a day Valparaiso committed
three errors.
USF will be in Miami for a two-game midweek series at FIU
that starts 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Bulls return to USF baseball stadium for a
three-game series against FAMU that starts Friday at 7 p.m.
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