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Game 1 Recap

TAMPA, (May 3, 2014) – Two late swings spoiled Jimmy Herget's masterpiece Saturday, as the University of South Florida baseball team just missed knocking off No. 8 Louisville in the second game of a doubleheader at the USF Baseball Stadium.

A game-tying home run in the ninth, and a leadoff triple in the 11th sent the Bulls to a 3-2 loss in their first extra-inning game of the season, despite a career night from Herget on the mound.

In a game expected to be a pitcher's duel from the start, Louisville grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the fourth. A double down the right field line from senior Jeff Gardner scored Cole Sturgeon from first base, opening the scoring in the second game of the night. It would be the only run Herget allowed over his first eight innings of work, as the Bulls' ace struck out a career-high 13, scattering five hits over 8 1/3 innings of work.

After threatening in the fifth, the Bulls grabbed the lead in the bottom of the eighth. USF loaded the bases on an Alfonso walk and back-to-back singles from Lueck and Teaf. Already with two hits in the game, Luke Borders drove in the Bulls' first run, grounding to second base and beating the throw to first on the double-play attempt.

With two outs and runners on the corners, Daniel Portales returned a chopper over the head of the pitcher, reaching on an error and scoring Lueck for the go-ahead run.

The lead wouldn't last, as Cardinals junior Grant Kay chased Herget from the game with a game-tying, one-out solo home run down the left field line. The Bulls went quietly in the ninth, sending USF to its first extra-inning game of the season.

After finding a way out of a no-out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 10th, Louisville jumped ahead in the 11th. The Cards took advantage of a leadoff triple, pushing the run across in what would be the final score of the night.

Lawrence Pardo took his first loss of the season, giving up one run on just two hits over two innings of work. Teaf and Borders each recorded a pair of singles in the loss.

The Bulls return to the USF Baseball Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. to finish the three-game series against Louisville.