University of South Florida
Saint Joseph's
Bulls' Bats Awaken for Season-High 13 Runs in Win
March 05, 2016 | Baseball
TAMPA (MARCH 4, 2016) – The University of South Florida (5-4) baseball team set a new season-high in runs as the Bulls routed the Saint Joseph's University (3-2) Hawks 13-3 on Friday night. Infielder David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) homered and tallied four RBIs as outfielder Luke Maglich (Sarasota, Fla.) recorded three hits and three runs scored in the victory.
“Our lineup set up pretty well tonight,” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “We took a lot of good at bats and you saw the results - a lot of hits and a lot of runs. We took our walks when we had to and a had lot of two out hits.”
Bulls starter Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) encountered trouble in the first but an inning-ending strikeout kept the Hawks from going ahead. Sanders fanned two batters in the opening frame and another two in the second to keep the contest scoreless.
USF broke the tie in the home half of the second. Maglich reached on a one-out infield single and scored on a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.). The Bulls added to the lead on an RBI single from infielder Coco Montes (Miami, Fla.) to create a 2-0 lead.
Ahead by a pair of runs, USF extended the advantage with a four-run, third inning. Outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) ripped a run-producing single to right field, Villar followed with a two-run double to left field, and Luke Borders struck again with an RBI single for the 6-0 edge.
Maglich then added another two runs on a single in the fourth and first baseman Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) tacked on another RBI double in the fifth.
Down 9-0, Saint Joseph's scored their first run in the sixth. Villar then countered by hitting a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the inning. His second home run of the season tied Chatfield for a team-high and put the Hawks down 11-1.
It wasn't the last home run of the night as USF pinch hitter Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) hit a two-run blast to left field in the seventh inning. The home run was the first of Genord's career and it happened in just his third collegiate at bat.
Saint Joseph's plated two runs in the eighth but USF would claim the series opener by double digits.
Sanders tossed 4.0 scoreless innings before leaving the contest with a blister injury. He lowered his season earned run average to 0.53. The junior yielded just three walks and two hits in the game as he also struck out six batters. Sanders, on the season, has 25 strikeouts compared to five walks.
Reliever Mark Savarese (1-0) receives the victory after throwing a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts. SJU starter Pat Vanderslice (0-2) takes the defeat after allowing eight runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings pitched.
Nine different Bulls, including seven starters, notched at least one hit in the game. The 13 USF runs tops the previous season-high of 11 set in the opening day, walk-off, 11-10 victory over Liberty (Feb. 19).
Maglich and Villar led the Bulls offensively with three runs scored each. Infielder Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) and outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) both tallied two runs each. Luke Borders, Genord, Maglich, and Villar all had multi-RBI nights for the Bulls.
USF looks for the series victory on Saturday when the two teams meet again at 6:30 p.m. Pitcher Brandon Lawson (1-0, 4.22 ERA) will get the start for the Bulls against Ryan Otero (0-0, 13.50 ERA). USF and Saint Joseph's will also play on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The homestand continues on Tuesday, March 8 when the Bulls host Florida State at USF Baseball Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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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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