TAMPA, Fla. (MARCH 11, 2016) – It took 15 innings and a total of four hours and 14 minutes before the University of South Florida baseball team (7-7) won 3-2 against Holy Cross (3-9) on Friday night.
Pitcher Tommy Eveld (Tampa, Fla.) kept USF in the game late by throwing 7.0 scoreless innings in relief, recording a career-high nine strikeouts. His performance set the stage for the bottom of the 15th when outfielder Luke Maglich (Sarasota, Fla.) hit a one-out triple to right-center field and then scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly from Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
“Maglich got the big hit there…and then Duke was aggressive to get the (game winner),” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “Tommy was outstanding. Our pitching and defense tonight was as good as it has been all season.”
The Bulls leapt ahead first on an RBI groundout from Maglich in the opening frame.
USF catcher Levi Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) then extended the advantage with a lead-off home run in the second. The homer, his second of the season, tied outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) and infielder David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) for the team-lead and put USF up by two.
Bulls' starting pitcher Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) held down Holy Cross throughout the day. He allowed back-to-back one out singles in the opening frame but responded by retiring the next 12 straight hitters in a row.
The game changed dramatically in the fifth inning. Not only did Holy Cross tie the game with two runs but home plate umpire Manny Salazar left the contest with an injury, leaving only two umpires for the remainder of the game.
Even at two, both teams worked around eighth inning jams. Eveld kept men at first and second with an inning-ending fielder's choice and Holy Cross reliever Jon Escobar stranded two men in scoring position as well.
Eveld also encountered back-to-back baserunners to start the ninth only to retire the next three hitters.
The game continued into extra innings where Eveld retired 18 hitters in a row from the ninth until his exit in the 14th. He set new career-highs in innings pitched (7.0) and strikeouts (nine) without allowing a run and only yielding two hits.
Fellow USF reliever Dylan Burns (Vero Beach, Fla.) took over for Eveld in the 15th, working through a bases-loaded jam to get an inning-ending fielder's choice.
Maglich's triple was his first hit of the night and second triple in as many games. Stunkel's RBI secured the Bulls a series-opening win and their second walk-off win of the year (vs. Liberty, Feb. 19).
Both starting pitchers did not factor into the decision. Sanders tossed 7.0 innings for USF, allowing just two runs on five hits. He walked only one Crusader while striking out 10. He has now compiled 35 strikeouts this season against just six walks.
Burns (1-0) threw a scoreless 15th inning to log his first career win. The loss goes to Holy Cross reliever George Capen (0-2), who threw 3.2 innings but allowed the game's final run to score.
Stunkel Jr., Villar and outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) all tallied two hits each in the contest.
It is the longest game since USF won 8-2 in 19 innings at Notre Dame on May 5, 2013.
The Bulls will look to win the series on Saturday. USF will have right-hander Brandon Lawson (2-0, 4.32 ERA) on the mound against Holy Cross righty Brendan King (2-0, 5.17). First pitch is set for 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 selected 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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