Like USF Baseball on Facebook
Follow @USFBaseball on Twitter

STORRS, Conn. (April 2, 2015)— Six runs in the final two innings, all scored with two outs, led the Bulls to an incredible 9-6 comeback victory over UConn to remain undefeated in conference play.

Trailing 6-3, the Bulls (21-9-1, 4-0) flipped the script in the eighth inning thanks to a two-out rally started by second basemen Kevin Merrell. The freshman drew a walk before advancing on a single by Levi Borders. Luke Borders followed with a single of his own to drive in Merrell.

With two on, National Player of the Week Buddy Putnam drilled a three-run home run over the right field wall to give the Bulls the 7-6 lead. 

In the ninth, the Bulls put together another two-out rally, again starting with a walk. Senior shortstop Kyle Teaf, making his 200th consecutive start, hit an RBI triple to the left field wall to add an insurance run. Merrell followed with a single to drive home Teaf and give the Bulls the 9-6 lead.

UConn (18-10, 2-2) took the first lead of the game in the third, plating a run on an RBI single by Blake Davey.

In the fourth inning, Merrell reached on an error for the first baserunner of the game for the Bulls. With two outs, Luke Borders launched a double to the left field wall to drive home Merrell from first and tie the game at one.

In the sixth, the Bulls took their first lead of the game on yet another Connecticut error. Merrell began the inning with a single and a stolen base, but was tagged out at home on a Levi Borders single. Levi, who advanced to second on the throw to tag Merrell, stole third and came home on a throwing error by the catcher to put the Bulls up 2-1.

The Huskies scored five runs in the sixth inning to take the largest lead of the game. The inning started with a hit-by-pitch and errors by both Jimmy Herget and Levi Borders allowed the Huskies to take the lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Michael Farley came in and gave up a walk and single as UConn plated two more.  

Luke Maglich hit his second home run in as many games in the top of the seventh to cut the UConn lead to just three runs.

Jimmy Herget earned a no-decision, giving up six runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. Mark Savarese picked up his first win of the season, throwing one inning of work and giving up just one hit. Tommy Peterson picked up his ninth save, striking out three in two innings of work.

Senior shortstop Kyle Teaf reached a career milestone starting his 200th consecutive game, the second longest streak amongst active players. Putnam was 1-for-3 with a run and three RBI while Kevin Merrell was 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a walk.

The two teams will play in Massachusetts at the New England Baseball Complex for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday, April 3.  

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

- #GoBulls -