CHAPEL HILL, N.C., FEB. 24, 2019 – The USF baseball team was a pitch here and a hit there from possibly sweeping the No. 6 Tar Heels, but dropped a pair of close games in Sunday's doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 5-3 at Boshamer Stadium.
In game one, the Bulls (3-4) were plagued by the first inning, as the Tar Heels (7-0) scored two runs on just one hit against senior righty
Alec Wisely (Jacksonville, Fla.). He was able to settle down, surrendering just two hits over the next 3.2.
USF cut into the lead in the third, as junior
Jordan Santos (Tampa) singled, then stole second. Senior
Kyle Phillips (Orlando) singled in the next at-bat to score the Bulls' first run. But from there it was difficult to manufacture offense, as UNC's Tyler Baum locked in to go seven strong innings, striking out 12. The Bulls put the tying run aboard in the top of the ninth with two outs, but could not even the scoreboard.
In game two, the Bulls and Tar Heels were at a3-3 stalemate through seven innings. In the top of the eighth, USF had two runners in scoring position, as Santos and Phillips again provided back-to-back base knocks. Senior
Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) flied out to center, and Santos attempted to tag for the go-ahead run, but the throw home was perfect and doubled him up, ending the threat.
In the bottom half, a leadoff walk was followed by a two-run homer to left, giving UNC a 5-3 advantage. The Bulls were unable to answer in the ninth.
After the Tar Heels took a first-inning lead on redshirt junior
Dylan Burns (Vero Beach. Fla.), who was making his first career start, USF responded in the third. Senior
Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) led off with a double, then redshirt sophomore catcher
Jake Sullivan (Tampa) brought him home.
With two men on and nobody out,
Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. Santos singled to right, scoring Sullivan, then Phillips grounded out, but brought in USF's third and final run of the day.
Notables
- Santos went 3-for-7 on the day with a run and a RBI.
- Phillips had a RBI in both games.
- Junior lefty Logan Lyle (Bartow, Fla.) entered in the fifth inning of game one and retired all 10 batters he faced, striking out four.
- Genord hit in each game.
- Chatfield now has three extra-base hits this year (two doubles, one home run).
Up Next
The Bulls return to Tampa for a Tuesday night clash against Florida State. The Bulls have hosted the Seminoles just three times since 1998. First pitch is set for 6:30 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 continued the success under first-year head coach Billy Mohl in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months. USF earned its third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. The team had four players drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first rounder, Shane McClanahan. Junior third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after tallying 24 doubles and hitting better than .370, being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
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