TAMPA, FEB. 28, 2016 – University of South Florida pitcher Joe Cavallaro (Venice, Fla.) set a new career-best with eight strikeouts in a career-high tying 7.0 innings but a late Eastern Michigan run resulted in a 3-2 defeat for the Bulls on Sunday afternoon.
By winning the opening two games of the weekend set, USF (4-3) still stakes claim to another series win, their second consecutive to open up the 2016 season.
“Pitching gave us a chance to win every game and the way we pitched we should have won every game,” said Bulls' head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “The offense was not good today so we need to get back to work.”
USF threatened first by loading the bases in the opening frame but Eastern Michigan pitcher Augie Gallardo recorded a popup to end the Bulls' rally.
Cavallaro and Gallardo then settled into a pitcher's duel. After allowing a leadoff single in the first, the USF right-hander retired 12 consecutive batters. Gallardo, in turn, set down 12 of the next 13 hitters he faced.
Eastern Michigan then snapped the scoreless tie in the fifth with a pair of runs, only to then see the Bulls counter with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
USF cut the deficit in half when outfielder Luke Maglich (Sarasota, Fla.) plated outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) on a sacrifice fly. The Bulls then tied the score when first baseman Duke Stunkel (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) singled home infielder Jonah Garrison (Orlando, Fla.) later in the frame.
Still even at two, Cavallaro encountered a bases-loaded jam in the seventh but escaped unscathed after inducing an inning-ending ground out.
After Cavallaro's exit, Eastern Michigan scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning.
Behind 3-2, USF worked a leadoff walk to begin the home half of the eighth but a pinch-hit double play ended the opportunity for the Bulls. EMU reliever Matthew Beaton (first save) threw the final 2.0 innings to preserve the Eagles' win.
Cavallaro receives the no decision, despite three-hitting the Eagles over 7.0 innings. EMU reliever Kyle Huckaby (1-1) tossed 2.1 hitless innings in relief for the win.
Stunkel led the Bulls offensively with two hits and one RBI. Maglich also posted an RBI and stole his team-high tying fourth base of the season.
USF goes on the road for the first time this season when they play at Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, March 1. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
The Bulls are back home on Friday, March 4 to begin a three-game weekend series with Saint Joseph's. The Friday night tilt will begin at 6:30 p.m. 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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