TAMPA, FLA., MARCH 10, 2018 – Redshirt senior righty Peter Strzelecki struck out a career-high 12 batters to guide the University of South Florida baseball team to a 6-0 win over Central Michigan Saturday night.

The Bulls (9-6) provided some early run support for Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.), plating one in the second. Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) doubled to lead off the frame, ended up on third with one out, then Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) drove him home.

As Strzelecki settled in and found a groove - striking out the side in the fourth - the USF offense got to the Chippewas (2-12-1) with five runs over the next two innings. Genord and David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) both walked to start the bottom of the fourth, then JD Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) singled to make it 2-0. Dietrich had another RBI scoring Genord, making it 3-0.

USF then added three in the fifth, as Villar had a two-RBI single with the bases loaded. Strzelecki scattered three more strikeouts over the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just two base runners.   

Key Stats

0 – This was USF's second shutout of 2018. The Bulls also had one in another Strzelecki start, his complete-game outing at UConn on May 13 last season.
12 – Strzelecki's career high strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and walked a pair.  
25 – With the win, USF clinches the series and improves to 25-1-1 in nonconference road series since 2012.  

Notables

• Villar finished with two RBI and one run.
• Genord and classmate Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) each went 1-for-3 with a double and three runs combined.
• Dutka finished with a game-high two hits.
• Redshirt sophomore lefty Connor Eason (Chesapeake, Va.) pitched the final 2.0 innings. He was perfect and struck out three.

Up Next
USF and Central Michigan wrap up the series Sunday at noon. The game was previously scheduled for 1:00 p.m. but was moved due to expected weather.

About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls earned just their second and third wins over top-five ranked teams with victories against then-No. 3 Florida State and at then-No. 5 Florida during the 2017 season. During the 2017 season, USF reached the 40-win mark for the first time since 1996 and entered the top-25 in the major collegiate baseball polls for the first time since 2013. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 12 NCAA appearances.