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By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 4, 2014 – Relief pitchers kept No. 2 FSU under wraps from the fourth inning on, but the Bulls' bats couldn't get it going in a 5-1 loss before a program record crowd of 3,615 at USF Baseball Stadium on Tuesday night.

“They're one of the best teams in the country. They're a good ball club, but I will not be satisfied losing, 5-1,” said head coach Lelo Prado, whose Bulls will complete a two-game series with the Seminoles 3 p.m. Wednesday back at USF Baseball Stadium.

USF (9-3) stayed within striking distance of the Seminoles thanks to stellar relief outings by Michael Farley and Tommy Peterson. Farley, a freshman from Valrico, Fla., struck out five and didn't allow a hit in 4 1/3 innings of scoreless work before Peterson, a redshirt freshman from New Port Richey, Fla., finished with 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball.

Brett Knief led off with a homer to left field during FSU's four-run second inning, but the Bulls got a run back in the bottom half of the frame when Putnam hit a solo shot of his own down the right field line. Putnam, a junior from Bartow, Fla., now has two career homers as a Bull.

“I told them before the game, 'You've got to stay away from the big innings,' and they got us with four runs in that second inning, but we still had opportunities,” Prado said.

USF starter Janick Serrallonga entered the game with a 0.87 ERA and exited with two outs in the third. Reliever Justin Patrick walked the only two batters he faced and the second free pass resulted in a 5-1 lead for the Seminoles (9-1).

Junior Kyle Teaf (Tallahassee) went 2-for-4 to lead USF's seven-hit attack, while Michael Arencibia, Austin Lueck and Hayden Kelley had a hit apiece. Freshman Daniel Portales (Tampa) extended his hit streak to 11 games with a single in the eighth inning.

FSU starter Peter Miller struck out 11 and gave up an earned run on four hits in five innings. Miller was teammates with USF third baseman Zac Gilcrease at Cambridge Christian High School in Lutz, Fla.

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston went 0-for-1 and got hit by a pitch after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

Purchase tickets for Wednesday's game HERE.