JACKSONVILLE, FLA., MARCH 7, 2018 – The University of South Florida baseball team dropped a close game at Jacksonville Wednesday night, 4-2.

The Bulls (7-6) had runners in scoring position in the first two innings, but couldn't get one home. The Dolphins (8-5) also threatened a couple times early, and were able to strike first with a run in the third.

USF loaded the bases in the fifth and sixth innings, but stranded three in each frame. The Dolphins capitalized on the missed opportunities, extending the lead to 4-0 with a three spot in the bottom half of the sixth.

The Bulls again loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, this time with no outs. Though they only had two hits in the inning, the Bulls took advantage and were able to plate two, trimming the deficit to 4-2.  

USF put runners on second and third in the eighth, but were unable to get closer. The Bulls were retired in order in the ninth and fell, 4-2.

Key Stats
3 – Junior JD Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) had a contest-best three hits with two singles and a double.
4 – Junior Alec Wisely (Jacksonville) was on base a game-high four times, walking three times and leading off the game with a double. He scored a run in the seventh.

Notables

• Junior catcher Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Freshman righty Baron Stuart (Okeechobee, Fla.) again gave the Bulls good length in his second career start, going 5.1 innings.

Up Next
USF is back at home Friday for a three-game series against Central Michigan. First pitch in game one is set for 7 p.m.

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.