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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA – The No. 25 Bulls have now had double the fun during their wild walk-off weekend against St. John's.
Kyle Teaf's RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning gave USF a 5-4 win Saturday night and secured another Big East series win. The first-place Bulls started their weekend off with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings on Friday night and are now 9-4 in one-run games this season.
“It's one of the best feelings in life,” Teaf said. “To fight with your brothers for 13 innings like we've been doing lately and to get walk-off wins so much is terrific.”
Teaf's big hit backed a stellar outing by a USF bullpen that kept St. John's scoreless after the seventh inning. The Red Storm put a runner on third with one out in the eighth before Chad Taylor closed the door with two strikeouts. The right-hander struck out four in 2 2/3 innings and Janick Serrallonga allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings before Steven Leasure (2-1) gave the Bulls a chance by stranding another St. John's runner on third in the 13th frame.
“In the dugout it's like we're in the third inning of a tie ballgame. Nothing changes, we're focused and we're ready to do it,” Teaf said.
Anthony Diaz led the 13th inning off with a walk before the Bulls really applied the pressure. USF had runners on second and third after Nik Alfonso's sacrifice bunt paved the way for a costly throwing error by catcher Danny Bethea. The Red Storm decided not to intentionally walk Teaf and the shortstop made them pay by shooting a line drive through the right side of the infield.
“There is something special going on this whole season,” Teaf said.
The Bulls (28-15, 12-2) go for the series sweep 1 p.m. Sunday back at USF Baseball Stadium. Right-hander Joey Lovecchio (4-2) looks for his second straight win after allowing two earned runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings of USF's 4-3 victory over UConn on April 21.
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