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FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 24, 2015)— It was Buddy Putnam's day as the senior recorded two home runs, drove in the tying run and scored the winning run in a come-from-behind win for the USF baseball team over FGCU at Swanson Stadium Tuesday evening. The Bulls improved to 17-8-1 on the season, while FGCU fell to 11-13-1.

Trailing 7-6 in the ninth inning, Putnam began a two-out rally, hitting a double to right field to score Levi Borders, who had reached on a single, to tie the game. One batter later, Luke Maglich singled to center field to score Putnam and put the Bulls on top for the final time.

Putnam and Maglich combined for three home runs on the night, with Putnam hitting his first in the second inning and his second in the eighth. Maglich launched a homer over the right field wall in the fourth inning to give USF its first lead of the game.

The Eagles (11-13-1) took the lead early on, knocking in two runs in the first inning. Putnam then responded, hitting his third home run in as many games to cut the Eagles lead to 2-1.

USF (17-8-1) tied the game in the third on a two-out rally, started by second basemen Kevin Merrell. The freshman singled and stole second before coming home on a Levi Borders double. In the fourth inning, Luke Maglich recorded his second home run of the season to give the Bulls their first lead of the game.

FGCU would take back the lead during a three-run fourth inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, Jake Noll hit an RBI single to tie the game at three. Nick Rivera followed up with an RBI double to put the Eagles up by two runs. In the sixth, Rivera doubled again to put FGCU up 6-3.

USF responded in the seventh on an Andres Leal RBI double.

The Bulls tied the game in the top of the eighth thanks to Putnam's second home run of the day. The senior knocked a no-doubter over the right field wall to cut the Eagles lead to just one. Maglich reached on an error and advanced to second, before scoring on a throwing error on an Austin Lueck fielder's choice to tie the game.

Putnam was 3-for-5 on the night with three runs and three RBI. Andres Leal was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Luke Maglich was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Michael Farley picked up his second win of the season, tossing 1.2 innings of one hit ball. The sophomore came up clutch, delivering a bases loaded strikeout looking to end the game and secure the win for the Bulls.

The Bulls open conference play this weekend at home against Cincinnati. The Bulls and Bearcats will begin a three-game series Friday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's game is also slated for 6:30 p.m. with Sunday's finale at 1:00 p.m.

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

- #GoBulls -