Bulls Take Early Lead in Loss to No. 19 FSU

Baseball USF

Bulls Take Early Lead in Loss to No. 19 FSU



Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R H E
USF 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0     3 6 1
FSU 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 1 X     7 8 2

 

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TALLAHASSEE (March 4, 2015)—  A four-run bottom of the sixth spoiled an upset bid for the University of South Florida baseball team in a 7-3 loss at No. 19 Florida State (10-3) Wednesday night. 

USF (6-6-1) started its upset bid early as Kevin Merrell and Kyle Teaf hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no outs for the Bulls in the first inning. Luke Borders followed up, reaching on an error to score Merrell and put the Bulls ahead early on.

The Bulls struck again in the second, thanks to two bases-loaded walks. Gilcrease got the inning started, reaching on an error, before stealing second and being advanced to third on a Buddy Putnam groundout.  Andres Leal, Merrell and Teaf drew walks to bring in one run for the Bulls and a new pitcher for FSU. Luke Borders walked to give USF its second run of the inning before a strikeout and lineout ended the bases loaded threat.

With USF leading 3-2, Tommy Eveld came in to relieve starting pitcher Ryan Valdes, who had gone a career-high five innings. Eveld loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch, before RHP Michael Farley entered and walked in two runs that gave FSU its first lead of the night. An RBI single and RBI sac fly plated two more before an RBI single in the eighth secured the final.

FSU cut into the Bulls' lead in the third on a solo home run by Danny De La Calle. In the fifth, a balk by RHP Ryan Valdes allowed for the runner on third to advance, scoring another run for the Seminoles.

Alec Byrd earned the win for FSU, giving up just three hits and no runs in five innings of work. Taylor Folsom earned the save, pitching 2.0 innings of one-hit ball. 

Eveld (0-1) took the loss for the Bulls giving up three runs on three hits. In his second start of the season, Valdes went a career-high five innings, while giving up just two runs on five hits to go with three walks and three strikeouts.

Teaf extended his on base streak to a team-leading 12 games, while Merrell extended his hit streak to a team-leading five games.

The Bulls return to Tampa for a three-game series with Seton Hall, March 6-8. First pitch on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. while Sunday's finale is slated for 1 p.m.

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

 

- #GoBulls -

 

 

 

Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
W- Alec Byrd 5.2 3 0 0 01 6
L- Tommy Eveld
0.0 3 3 3 2 0
 S- Taylor Folsom  2.0  0  1  1
USF AB H R RBI BB SO
Kyle Teaf 4 2 0 1 1 2
Kevin Merrell 4 1 1 0 1 0
FSU AB H R RBI BB SO
Taylor Walls 3 2 0 1 2 1
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Players Mentioned

Zac Gilcrease

#16 Zac Gilcrease

3B
6' 2"
Freshman
Buddy Putnam

#13 Buddy Putnam

UT
6' 3"
Freshman
Kyle Teaf

#3 Kyle Teaf

INF
5' 9"
Freshman
Levi  Borders

#12 Levi Borders

C/3B
6' 3"
Freshman
Luke Borders

#4 Luke Borders

INF/OF
6' 3"
Freshman
Brandon Lawson

#13 Brandon Lawson

RHP
6' 2"
Freshman
Joe Cavallaro

#25 Joe Cavallaro

RHP
6' 5"
Freshman
Tommy Eveld

#28 Tommy Eveld

RHP
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Michael Farley

#22 Michael Farley

RHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
Kevin Merrell

#6 Kevin Merrell

INF/OF
6' 0"
Freshman
Ryan Valdes

#42 Ryan Valdes

OF/RHP
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Zac Gilcrease

#16 Zac Gilcrease

6' 2"
Freshman
3B
Buddy Putnam

#13 Buddy Putnam

6' 3"
Freshman
UT
Kyle Teaf

#3 Kyle Teaf

5' 9"
Freshman
INF
Levi  Borders

#12 Levi Borders

6' 3"
Freshman
C/3B
Luke Borders

#4 Luke Borders

6' 3"
Freshman
INF/OF
Brandon Lawson

#13 Brandon Lawson

6' 2"
Freshman
RHP
Joe Cavallaro

#25 Joe Cavallaro

6' 5"
Freshman
RHP
Tommy Eveld

#28 Tommy Eveld

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
RHP
Michael Farley

#22 Michael Farley

6' 3"
Sophomore
RHP
Kevin Merrell

#6 Kevin Merrell

6' 0"
Freshman
INF/OF
Ryan Valdes

#42 Ryan Valdes

6' 0"
Junior
OF/RHP