TAMPA, FLA., MARCH 29, 2019 – The USF baseball team dropped the series opener to No. 14 East Carolina, 4-0, Friday night.
The Bulls (12-12, 1-3 The American) were behind early on, as a the Pirates (19-6, 4-0 The American) hit a three-run homer in the top of the second. ECU added to the lead in the third on two hits, making it 4-0.
USF got two base runners in both the fourth and sixth innings, but stranded a pair in each instance. Senior
Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) singled with one away in the bottom of the eighth, then
Brandon Schrepf (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) and
Jake Sullivan (Tampa) each walked.
With the bases loaded and two away, a hot shot to third was snared and the tag was applied on Schrepf for the force, ending USF's threat.
Key Stats
3 – Schrepf now has hits in three-straight games.
3 – The USF bullpen of
Connor Eason (Chesapeake, Va.) and
Richie Cruz (Miami) pitched the final three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
15 – Junior
Austin Bodrato (Northvale, N.J.) walked and has now reached base in 15 straight games.
Nota-Bulls
- Genord has also hit safely in three straight games and reached base in 13 straight.
Up Next
The Bulls and Pirates continue the series Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Alec Wisely (Jacksonville, Fla.) will start for USF.
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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