By KY-SHON HEPBURN

Special to GoUSFBulls.com

TAMPA – USF dropped its regular season finale against Rutgers 10-6 on Saturday at USF Baseball Stadium.

“We struggled all day, but we made it through,” said head coach Lelo Prado.

The Bulls rallied in the eighth inning scoring three runs on five hits.

Anthony Diaz led the inning off with a single, Kyle Copack singled up the middle and Nik Alfonso was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Teaf hit a RBI-single and Alex Mendez hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Copack. James Ramsay singled to second base and Jimmy Falla hit a RBI-single that plated Alfonso.

Senior Jimmy Falla went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.

Nathaniel Roe earned the win for the Scarlet Knights. Roe (2-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits.

Seven pitchers got in on the action for the Bulls and gave up a combined 10 runs on 17 hits. Starting pitcher Joey Lovecchio shouldered the loss allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of work. Lovecchio (5-5) struck out two batters.

USF (35-20, 17-7) will face Rutgers in the Big East Tournament 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, FL.

“We have two days of practice to get ready for the tournament,” Prado said. “We have to play a lot better.”