Baseball March 13, 2016 USF

Two-run Ninth Earns Second Straight Walk-off Win

TAMPA, Fla. (MARCH 12, 2016) – Down by a run entering the final inning, the University of South Florida baseball team (8-7) scored twice in the ninth, including a game-winning RBI single from outfielder Luke Maglich (Sarasota, Fla.), to defeat Holy Cross 4-3 on Saturday night. The walk-off, the second this series for the Bulls, is also the second walk-off hit this year for the senior and it earns USF a series victory over the Crusaders.

“Pitching and defense was at a very high level tonight,” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “We gave up the lead (in the ninth) and we had enough heart once again to come back and start a rally.”

Leading 2-1, USF looked to close the game out in the top of the ninth, however, a dropped fly ball in the outfield prolonged the frame for Holy Cross (3-10) to tie and go ahead on a Nick Lovullo two-run double.

Trailing 3-2, the Bulls began the ninth with a bunt single from infielder Jonah Garrison (Orlando, Fla.). Outfielder Garrett Zech then put down a sacrifice bunt but Holy Cross reliever Jon Escobar threw the ball into right field. The error put the tying and go-ahead runners into scoring position. Catcher Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) then tied the game at three with an RBI groundout to shortstop. Following another groundout, Maglich then lined a base hit into right-field, scoring Garrison from third, and giving USF the 4-3 victory.

The contest was low scoring for the first eight innings.

Holy Cross outfielder Bobby Indeglia put the Crusaders ahead early with a second inning RBI single.

Down by a run, USF evened up the score in the bottom half of the third. The Bulls capitalized on a Holy Cross error to tie the game on a fielder's choice from Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).

Tied at one, Bulls pitcher Brandon Lawson (Brooksville, Fla.) kept the game deadlocked by stranding a runner at second base in the fifth and leaving men at the corners in the sixth. He fired a career-high 8.0 innings in the no-decision, giving up just one run on eight hits. The righty also allowed just one walk while striking out a career-high tying 11 hitters.

USF snapped the 1-1 tie in the eighth when Maglich reached on a leadoff single. He proceeded to steal second and score three batters later on a Levi Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) run-producing single to left field.

Reliever Dylan Burns (Vero Beach, Fla.) threw the final inning for the Bulls and improves to 2-0. He has notched both wins of the series for USF. The loss goes to Holy Cross reliever Jon Escobar (0-1), who surrendered three runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings pitched.

Maglich tied a season-high with another three-hit night. Outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) also tallied two hits in the game.

Due to weather, the series finale will now take place at 11 a.m. EDT on Sunday instead of the originally announced 1 p.m. time. Fans are also encouraged to turn their clocks forward for Daylight Savings time this evening to ensure they are ready for the earlier start time on Sunday.

The Bulls will be playing for a sweep as right-hander Joe Cavallaro (1-0, 2.84 ERA) is scheduled to start against fellow Holy Cross righty Phil Reese (0-2, 8.79).

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.