TAMPA, MARCH 25, 2016 – Pitcher Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) delivered a complete game shutout to give the University of South Florida baseball team (13-10) a 4-0 series opening win over Dartmouth (4-12) on Friday night. It is the first complete game shutout by a Bulls starting pitcher since Jimmy Herget accomplished the feat in a 1-0 victory over Pittsburgh on April 5, 2013.
“(Sanders) did a really good job to minimize his pitches, get three big double plays behind him, and a three pitch inning as well,” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “It is good to get a complete game with less than 100 pitches. That is what you want out of your Friday night guy.”
Dartmouth threatened to take the early lead. The Big Green had base runners in each of the four innings but Sanders kept Dartmouth from going ahead.
The Bulls broke the scoreless tie in the fifth when outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) hit a towering home run to right field. His team-high sixth home run of the season pushed the Bulls ahead 1-0. Later in the frame, infielder Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) doubled home shortstop Coco Montes (Miami) from second to increase the lead to two.
Sanders kept the Big Green trailing by inducing double plays in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings. He also threw 1-2-3, three pitch inning in the eighth as well.
USF tacked on some insurance runs in the home half of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) drove home Merrell with a single up the middle and Borders scored later in the inning on a Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) RBI single to center field.
Sanders (2-1) completed the night by retiring the last seven hitters he faced to record his second win of the season. He allowed only five hits and one walk, while striking out seven.
Montes tied his career-high with two hits in the contest. He is now on a team-high five-game hitting streak. Montes also scored a run in the contest.
Maglich ended the night 1-for-2 with his fifth double of the season and his team-leading 15th stolen base in as many chances.
The series will continue on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls will have right-hander Brandon Lawson (Brooksville, Fla.) on the mound against Dartmouth righty Duncan Robinson.
USF will be hosting its annual Bulls Against Cancer Night on Saturday. The team will be wearing special game day uniforms and Moffitt will have a booth and “Mole Patrol” bus in the parking lot. There will also be a check presentation during the game.
Additionally, in honor of it being Easter weekend, there will be an Easter Egg hunt for the kids on Saturday as well. Easter eggs, with goodies, will be hidden throughout the ballpark for all the children to find and enjoy.
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. Five players from that recruiting class are everyday starters in 2016 including outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.), who leads the team in home runs and RBIs, infielder David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), who has the highest batting average on the team, and outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.), who has the third most sacrifice bunts in the country. 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), visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information, and purchase tickets for upcoming games at USFBullsTix.com .
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