By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, FEB. 27, 2016 – Chris Chatfield and Cameron Montgomery each drove in three runs and Brandon Lawson struck out a career-high 11 batters as USF secured its second straight series win with an 8-4 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday night.
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Chatfield went 2-for-4 and his first-career homer was a two-run shot over the scoreboard that gave the Bulls a 5-4 lead in the third inning. USF (4-2) didn't allow a run after the first inning and its pitching staff racked up 16 strikeouts a night after fanning 17 in an 8-4 win.
“I thought our pitchers were really good tonight,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “When we got two strikes, we were able to put them away.”
Duke Stunkel (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) went 2-for-3 and scored twice to help USF put up at least six runs for the fifth time this season.
“I think we're having real good at-bats,” Chatfield said. “We're just waiting back and being selective up there.”
Lawson (1-0) set a new career high in strikeouts a week after fanning seven against Liberty. The junior right-hander from Brooksville, Fla., scattered four hits, didn't allow a walk and rebounded nicely from a four-run first inning.
“I thought we saw a more mature Brandon Lawson tonight,” Kingston added. “That was good for him to settle in the way he did after that first inning.”
John Montgomery hit a two-run homer as Eastern Michigan opened the game with a four-run first. USF got three runs back in the bottom of the first and knocked Eastern Michigan's starter out in the process.
Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a wild pitch with one out. Chatfield followed with a two-out RBI double and Montgomery walked with the bases loaded before Eagles right-hander Sam Delaplane exited.
USF took the lead in the third inning thanks to the powerful bat of Chatfield. The freshman outfielder from Riverview, Fla., jumped all over a 3-2 pitch and hit a two-run homer that sailed over the scoreboard in right field.
“It was a full count and I was just looking for a fastball anywhere down the middle or inside,” Chatfield said. “He gave me an eye-level fastball. I didn't think I was going to catch up to it, but my bat ran into it and it went out.”
The Bulls extended their lead to 8-4 with a three-run seventh inning that featured a two-out rally. Montgomery (Windermere, Fla.) hit a two-run single and a fielding error by the left fielder allowed Coco Montes (Miami) to score on the play.
“(Montgomery) has a lot of bat speed and that ball he hit with the bases loaded really jumped off his bat,” Kingston said. “… That big hit extended the lead and made it a little bit more comfortable for us.”
Like Lawson, USF's bullpen didn't allow a walk and Mark Savarese (Palm City, Fla.) got the Bulls to the ninth by striking out three and allowing just one hit in two innings. Tommy Eveld (Tampa) struck out two in the ninth, a night after providing the Bulls with two scoreless innings Friday night.
USF eyes a series sweep of Eastern Michigan (3-5) Sunday at noon at USF Baseball Stadium. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com.
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. Under the guidance of first year head coach Mark Kingston, the Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals last season for the first time in 13 years and USF followed that success with a consensus Top 10 recruiting class. The team returns outfielder Kevin Merrell, who was named an NCBWA Freshmen All-American last season after leading the Bulls in batting average (.346), runs (45), hits (83) and stolen bases (21). Senior catcher Levi Borders and senior outfielder Luke Maglich were both named to the 2016 Preseason All-Conference Team in the AAC. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 11 NCAA appearances. Follow the baseball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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