TAMPA, APRIL 9, 2016 – The University of South Florida baseball team (15-16, 1-4 The American) was defeated 4-3 by Memphis on Saturday night. After scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, USF carried a 3-2 lead to the ninth where Memphis plated a pair of runs for the victory.
In the early going, Memphis (12-18, 3-2 The American) took the first inning lead on an RBI groundout and added to the advantage with a run scoring single in the third.
Bulls pitcher Brandon Lawson (Brooksville, Fla.) kept the Tigers scoreless through the remainder of his 6.0 innings. He yielded just two runs, both unearned, on four hits while also striking out seven in the no decision.
USF then rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Infielder Coco Montes (Miami) led off with an infield single and Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) followed with a single to right. Outfielder Jake Little then misplayed the ball, allowing Montes to score and moving Stunkel Jr. to third. Stunkel Jr. then scored the tying run in the next at-bat on a David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) sacrifice fly.
Even at two, USF reliever Andrew Perez (Orlando, Fla.) fired a hitless seventh and eighth innings. He struck out five of the seven batters he faced.
USF broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth. Villar reached on a one-out single and catcher Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) hit a seeing-eye single to right. On the play, Little errantly threw the ball away to third, resulting in Villar to score the go ahead run.
Down 3-2, the Tigers rallied in the ninth to load the bases with nobody out. Memphis then tied and took the lead on a pair of RBI groundouts. Closer Nolan Blackwood then pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for the save.
Montes is now on a five game hitting streak.
Stunkel Jr. tallied two hits for the Bulls. He has hit safely in four straight games.
The series concludes on Sunday at noon. The Bulls will have right-hander Joe Cavallaro (Venice, Fla.) on the mound against Tigers righty Matt Ferguson.
For the second consecutive season, the USF baseball team will be shaving their heads in partnership with the Vs. Cancer Foundation. The coaches and staff will band together and shave their heads following the game. Fans can also get a haircut, courtesy of our friends at Great Clips, for just a five dollar donation. Click here to make a donation to the Bulls' Vs. Cancer team. There will also be a student-athlete tutor recognition during the game as well.
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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