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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, APRIL 10, 2015 – Jimmy Herget pitched eight solid innings and Luke Maglich hit a two-run homer as first-place USF added to its league lead with a 2-1 win over East Carolina on Friday night.
USF (23-11-1) extended its home winning streak to 13 games and improved to 6-1 in American Athletic Conference play. The Bulls are two games ahead in the league standings and head coach Mark Kingston credited his club for keeping up its high level of play against a quality opponent.
“(ECU) is a tough team to play, but I thought we were able to go toe-to-toe with them tonight and that's what you have to do,” Kingston said. “They're a well-coached team and they're talented, so when you play games like this you need a Friday night starter to do what Jimmy did.”
Herget (6-1) scattered seven hits in his 20th career victory and gave up an earned run against a potent Pirates lineup that was averaging nearly six runs per game. The junior right-hander from Tampa struck out nine batters to increase his season total to 72 in 57.2 innings.
“He was good tonight. He threw a few more fastballs today than normal and I thought that allowed him to get some outs early in counts with groundballs,” Kingston said. “I thought that was the difference tonight with him able to go eight instead of just five or six.”
ECU (20-14) grabbed a 1-0 lead with an RBI single by Travis Watkins in the top of the fifth before the Bulls bounced back in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) led off with a single and Maglich (Sarasota) put USF ahead with a two-run homer that landed on the roof of the Josephine Ramil Campo Batting Facility beyond the wall in right field.
The Bulls have hit 23 home runs this season – 14 more than last year – and Maglich ranks second on the team with five round-trippers as a junior.
“Obviously we try to place a high premium on power and we work on it a lot,” Kingston said. “Those guys are up there swinging the bats and they're getting the results.”
Maglich wrapped up his 2-for-3 performance with a single in the seventh and his homer proved to be all USF needed because of another impressive outing by the pitching staff. Herget worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Tommy Peterson recorded his 11th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
“The great thing about Jimmy tonight is he got to the eighth and we were able to give the ball to Tommy right there in the ninth,” Kingston said.
The Bulls look to secure their third conference series victory of the season 6:30 p.m. Saturday back at USF Baseball Stadium. Purchase tickets HERE.
For more information on the USF baseball team, follow @USFBaseball on Twitter.
- #GoBulls -
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