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TAMPA (April 15, 2014) – USF scored in four of the first five innings and Brandon Lawson tossed six quality innings as the Bulls defeated Stetson 10-3 Tuesday night at USF Baseball Stadium.

The Bulls improve to 21-15 on the year while Stetson falls to 14-24.

 “I am really happy with the performance today,” said head coach Lelo Prado. “We didn't play real good at Stetson so it is nice to see us bounce back today and build some momentum because it is going to be a dog fight this weekend versus Houston.”

USF got off to a quick start scoring a pair of runs in the first inning.  Kyle Teaf led-off the frame with a walk and moved up to third on an executed hit-and-run by Lawrence Pardo.  Teaf scored the game's first run on a ground out while Pardo came across on a Daniel Portales double down the right field line.

In the second, both teams scored a run on a wild pitch to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

The Bulls took control of the game in the middle innings leading 10-2 after five innings of play.  In the fourth, Luke Maglich drove home his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to deep right field bringing home Joe Altieri.

USF exploded for six runs in the fifth beginning with a one-out, bases loaded single up the middle by Altieri.  Teaf drove in the next run on a single to left-centerfield before Pardo delivered a two-run single through the right side.

Stetson went to the bullpen to try and slow down the USF bats but Maglich knocked in the Bulls' ninth run of the game on his second sacrifice fly of the game.  Luke Borders capped off the scoring for USF with a single up the middle.

For the Hatters, Josh Powers had a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the fifth inning and Kyle Pitts had a RBI single to right field in the seventh to account for their final two runs.

Brandon Lawson picked up the win for USF improving to 3-1 on the year.  The freshman went six innings allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out a pair.  Cody Hernandez, Brandon Murray and Jordan Strittmatter each threw an inning in relief.

Pardo led the offense with three hits on the night, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs while also drawing a walk.  Teaf, Portales, Luke Borders and Andres Leal each picked up two-hits apiece for the Bulls. 

Josh Powers (2-4) started the game on the mound for Stetson but lasted just one inning surrendering a pair of runs.  Six other Hatters pitched in relief during the ballgame. Offensively, Tyler Bocock went 3-for-5 scoring two of Stetson's three runs while Patrick Mazeika, Pitts and Kyle Zech each tallied a pair of hits each.

USF has an off day tomorrow before returning to the diamond on Thursday, April 17 when they take on No. 14 Houston.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Cougar Field in Houston.