DeLand, Fla. (MARCH 15, 2016) – The University of South Florida baseball team (10-7) received 6.0 innings of one-run baseball from starter Brad Labozzetta (Lakeland, Fla.) and a career-high three hits from outfielder Cameron Montgomery (Windermere, Fla.) in a 3-2 road win at Stetson (10-8) on Tuesday night.
This was the fourth straight victory for the Bulls, who will seek a fifth consecutive win when the team plays at North Florida on Wednesday night.
“I thought our pitching and defense once again was outstanding,” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “Labozzetta, Dylan Burns and Tommy Eveld especially did a good job of keeping their offense in check and our defense was really good again tonight.”
USF started with the lead in the first inning when outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The advantage was only short-lived though as Stetson answered with a game-tying RBI groundout in the bottom half of the inning.
Tied at one, the Bulls tallied another run in the second when infielder Jonah Garrison (Orlando, Fla.) scored on a single up the middle from shortstop Coco Montes (Miami, Fla.).
Staked to a 2-1 lead, Labozzetta kept the Hatters from tying the game by leaving two men on base in the third and another runner aboard in the fourth.
USF extended the lead in the fifth. Montgomery led off the inning with a walk and scored later in the frame on a sacrifice fly from catcher Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.).
Up 3-1, Labozzetta encountered his biggest jam in the home half of the fifth. The Hatters loaded the bases against the Bulls right-hander but the redshirt-junior induced a groundout of John Fussell to end the rally.
Stetson wouldn't score again until Labozzetta (1-3) exited. He threw 6.0 innings of one-run, four-hit baseball while striking out a career-high six batters in the victory.
The Hatters closed the deficit to one run in the seventh when reliever Andrew Perez (Orlando, Fla.) plated a run on a wild pitch. Pitcher Dylan Burns (Vero Beach, Fla.) then relieved Perez with two men on and one out only to retire the last two hitters of the inning.
Up 3-2, Burns also worked another scoreless inning in the eighth and closer Tommy Eveld (third save) worked around a one out single in the ninth to preserve the victory.
The Bulls had eight newcomers in the starting lineup including seven freshman. The three hits for Montgomery was a new career high. Garrison ended the night 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.
The Bulls will also be on the road on Wednesday at North Florida. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
This weekend, USF will welcome Michigan State, ranked No. 25 by Baseball America, for a three-game series. The Friday and Saturday contests will be held at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday game begins at 12:00 p.m. 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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