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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, APRIL 27, 2014 – The Bulls racked up 17 hits but couldn't complete the sweep of Memphis as the Tigers took the final of the series, 7-5, Sunday before a crowd of 1,081 at USF Baseball Stadium.
Sophomore Levi Borders led the offensive attack by going 4-for-5, while his younger brother Luke Borders collected three hits for USF (24-19, 10-8). Memphis (23-22, 5-10) posted 11 hits and seized control of the game during a six-run sixth inning while the Tigers turned five double plays on the Bulls.
“I guess they made pitches when they had to,” head coach Lelo Prado said. “We had plenty of opportunities and that happens in this crazy game.”
Jake Little's RBI sacrifice fly gave Memphis a 1-0 lead in the first inning before the Bulls bounced back with a three-run third frame. Leadoff batter Hayden Kelley (Tampa) trotted to first after being hit by a pitch and senior Kyle Teaf (Tallahassee) put runners on first and second by drawing a one-out walk.
That set the table for Portales, who connected for a two-run double to left-center field and Levi Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) plated Portales with a two-out RBI single to center.
USF kept the lead until the sixth inning when Memphis put together its six-run frame against starter Tommy Peterson (New Port Richey, Fla.) and the bullpen. The inning started with a fielding error and two hit batters, and the Tigers cut their deficit to 3-2 when Zach Schritenthal scored on a wild pitch with the bases load. Kane Barrow followed with a two-run double to left-center on Peterson's 65th and final pitch of the game.
Memphis' one-out rally continued with an RBI single through the right side by Nate Rupiper and Ethan Gross extended the Tigers' lead to 7-3 with a two-run single.
USF started to chip away at the deficit in the bottom half of the sixth and Kelley got things going with a one-out single to right field. Kelley jetted all the way home from first base when junior Austin Lueck (Daytona, Fla.) roped the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a double.
The Bulls continued their comeback pursuit with another run in the seventh inning after the Borders brothers continued their hot afternoon at the plate. Luke Borders collected his second hit by slapping a 2-2 pitch through the left side and Levi Borders registered his fourth hit in four plate appearances with a single through the right side. Luke Borders scored when junior Buddy Putnam (Bartow, Fla.) hit into a double play.
USF was able to keep it close thanks to a solid performance by reliever Cody Hernandez, who scattered three hits and walked one in three shutout innings.
“He thinks he's good, he goes out there and competes and he locates,” Prado said. “It isn't about how hard you throw it's where you locate the ball and he locates and keeps guys off-stride, and that's the reason he's very successful.”
Luke Borders got a rally going in the ninth inning with a leadoff single, but the Bulls' threat was diminished by another double play.
“That's this crazy game,” Prado said.
The Bulls continue their final home stand of the season with a test against North Florida 6 p.m. Tuesday before taking on No. 12 Louisville in a three-game series that starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Purchase tickets for each game HERE.
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