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TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2015)— A five-run first inning and Levi Borders solo home run in the fifth led the USF baseball team to a 9-2 victory over the Wagner Seahawks Saturday night.

“The game is about managing the situations,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “In the first inning we give up one and score five. I thought that was a great way to start the game.”

For the second straight night, the Bulls record five or more runs in one inning. Kevin Merrell got the inning started on a leadoff double before being driven in on an RBI single by Kyle Teaf. A walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases to bring up Luke Borders. The sophomore crushed a double to center field driving in Teaf and Luke Maglich.

With two outs, Nik Alfonso singled up the middle to bring home the Borders brothers, putting the Bulls up 5-1.

The Bulls were held scoreless until the fifth inning when Levi Borders crushed a solo home run to left field. It was the second of the season for the junior, who scored a two-run homer against Louisville, and third of his career.

“Levi Borders had the big home run with two strikes,” Kingston said. “We want to be good two-strike hitters. We had a great approach up and down the line.

USF added runs in the seventh and eighth innings on a two-run, two-out double by Austin Lueck and a Maglich RBI single. 

Wagner took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Ben Ruta reached on an error and scored Nick Mascelli. The Seahawks tacked on another run in the sixth after an RBI groundout from pinch hitter Brendan Benecke drove in Trey Nicosia.

Senior Casey Mulholland (1-1) earned the win after giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits in seven innings of work. Tommy Eveld and Michael Clarkson each worked an inning in relief, both giving up just one hit.

Despite two errors, Teaf had an impressive outing at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run and an RBI. Levi Borders went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI.

Mike Adams took the loss for the Seahawks, giving up six runs (all earned) on ten hits in just four innings of work.

The Bulls and Seahawks will face off for the last time Sunday at 1 p.m. as USF looks to sweep the series. 

“I told them, if you want to be an NCAA caliber team and be considered for regionals, you come out here with an attitude to win and sweep the series,” Kingston said. “We told them, 'Last weekend we won two out of three and that was a good weekend. If you want to have a great weekend, you come out with the attitude that we're coming out here to finish the deal tomorrow.'”

For more information on the USF baseball team, follow @USFBaseball on Twitter.