By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, MARCH 8, 2016 – David Villar just keeps on hitting.
The freshman standout from Pembroke Pines, Fla., went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in USF's 12-4 loss to No. 11 Florida State before a crowd of 2,431 on Tuesday night.
“I saw a player that was ready for the stage,” head coach Mark Kingston said.
Villar's three-run double spotted USF a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning and the third baseman fell one hit shy of his career high against top-level pitching. Villar leads the team with a .394 batting average and has two homers, five extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in 10 games.
“I think Bill Parcells said it, 'If they bite when they're pups, they'll bite when they're dogs,'” Kingston said. “He's a young player that doesn't think this stage is too big and he had a great night.”
FSU (9-3) struck first with a run in the opening inning, but the Bulls answered back in a big way with three runs in the third.
Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) got things started with a one-out single and stole two bases before the bases were loaded up. Villar put the Bulls ahead by ripping a 1-2 pitch near the line in deep left field for a three-run double with two outs. Zech finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot.
FSU took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning after the Bulls nearly got out of a bases-loaded jam. Up 3-2, Michael Clarkson (0-1) got Gage West to hit into what would have been an inning-ending groundout, but a throwing error sent a pair of Seminoles home.
Clarkson gave the Bulls a gutsy outing in his first start of the season, striking out three batters and giving up two earned runs in 3.2 innings.
USF (6-6) capped off the scoring in the ninth, when Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) scored on a wild pitch with two outs.
Kingston said Tuesday was a prime opportunity for his staff to evaluate talent with 19 different Bulls seeing action. Villar continued to impress after his three-run double with singles in the fifth and seventh innings.
“We don't care how old you are. You're good or you're not. He's shown that he can play at this level – period,” Kingston said.
The Bulls continue their busy week with a game at Jacksonville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. USF begins a three-game home series against Holy Cross on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start and Sunday's series finale begins at noon. 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 named 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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