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TAMPA (April 25, 2015)— A ninth-inning rally featuring home runs from Levi Borders and Luke Maglich fell just short as the Bulls dropped a narrow 9-8 decision to No. 22 Houston Saturday evening. The Bulls still sit atop the American conference with a one-game lead over the Cougars, Memphis and East Carolina.
Down 9-4 in the eighth inning, the Bulls (28-15-1, 9-5 American) began to put together a rally attempt. Back-to-back singles by Luke Borders and Luke Maglich put two on with no outs to start the inning. After a strikeout, Andres Leal singled up the middle to load the bases. Austin Lueck hit a deep sac fly to right field to score Luke Borders and make the score 9-5.
The rally really started to take shape in the ninth with a one-out single by Kevin Merrell. Levi Borders hit his second home run of the game on a 1-1 pitch to make it a 9-7 game. After a line out by Luke Borders put two outs on the board, Luke Maglich hit the second home run of the inning for the Bulls to make it a one-run game. Unfortunately, the Bulls left the tying run at first and we're unable to complete the comeback win.
Levi Borders led the offensive charge for the Bulls going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and three runs driven in. Maglich also had a 3-for-4 day with a home run of his own. Merrell was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and his 20th bunt-single of the season.
USF found itself in a hole early on as Houston (28-15, 8-6 American) took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run on the first pitch of the game. The Bulls would respond in the bottom half of the inning on a two-RBI double by Luke Borders.
The lead would not last long though as the Cougars put up a five-spot in the top of the third. Ian Rice led off with a solo-homer to tie the game at two. Zac Taylor was issued a walk before scoring on a Kyle Survance double and an error by Merrell. A wild pitch moved Survance to third before he came home on the Bulls second error of the inning. A two-run home run by Jacob Campbell capped off the inning and put Houston ahead 6-2.
The Bulls responded with runs in the bottom of the third and fifth to pull within two of the Cougars. A dropped infield fly with the bases loaded allowed Merrell to score in the third and Levi Borders hit his first home run of the game in the fifth.
Houston would tack on three more runs in the sixth on an RBI single and two-RBI triple.
Survance was the catalyst behind the Cougars attack as he went 4-for-5 at the plate with a home run and three runs scored. RHP Kyle Dowdy picked up the win, giving up six runs on 14 hits in 8.2 innings.
USF starter Casey Mulholland suffered the loss, giving up nine runs on 11 hits while striking out and walking three. Brandon Lawson through three hitless innings in relief, striking out two and walking just one.
The Bulls and Cougars will meet in the rubber match of the series Sunday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. The players and coaches will shave their heads at the conclusion of the game for the Vs. Cancer Foundation
For more information on the USF baseball team, follow @USFBaseball on Twitter.
- #GoBulls -
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