HOUSTON, APRIL 24, 2016 – The University of South Florida baseball team (19-21, 4-8 The American) was defeated 7-5 in a weather shortened five innings at Houston (22-16, 5-7) on Sunday afternoon. The contest endured two separate stoppages before the game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning.
UH went ahead with a run in the first inning and another run in the second.
Down by two, USF tied the game in the third. Outfielder Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) hit a two out single to center, stole second, and then scored on a two base throwing error in the Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) at bat. Stunkel Jr. then moved to third on a passed ball and was plated on a Luke Maglich (Sarasota, Fla.) RBI single up the middle.
Even at two, Houston then inched ahead on a triple and throwing error in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing 3-2, USF looked to even up the score again in the fourth, but despite back to back leadoff singles, UH kept the Bulls from tying up the game.
The Cougars then pulled away with four runs in the fourth for a 7-2 advantage.
The game then entered a weather delay in the top of the fifth inning. Following a one hour and 31 minute stoppage, the Bulls loaded the bases with two outs and scored all three runs when a Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) line drive to left center was dropped by outfielder Zac Taylor.
Behind 7-5, USF began the bottom of the fifth but the contest entered another lightning delay after just two pitches. With USF scheduled to catch a flight, and the teams having reached the drop dead time to play, the game was officially called at 4:53 p.m. CDT.
Houston wins the series two games to one.
Bulls starter Joe Cavallaro (Venice, Fla.) incurred his first loss of the season in the defeat. He surrendered five runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings pitched.
Zech matched his career bests with two runs scored and two hits.
Catcher Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) lengthened his hit streak to eight with a second inning single.
Stunkel Jr. saw his career-high 12 game hit streak end on Sunday with an 0-for-3 performance.
The Bulls will be back at home to host Florida International University on April 26 at 6:30 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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