TAMPA, FLA., April 26, 2019 – The USF baseball team kept its momentum riding with a 5-3 win over Houston to open the weekend series Friday.
The Bulls (20-20, 3-10 The American) faced a three-run deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth, before an
Alex Bello (Miami) RBI to score
Austin Bodrato (Northvale, N.J.) got USF on the board.
USF loaded the bags in the bottom of the sixth with one out, trailing 3-2.
Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) sent a grounder to third. The Cougars (25-17, 8-8 The American) got the force at third base, but the throw to first went wide, allowing two runs to come and put the Bulls ahead, 4-3.
Houston led off the seventh with a triple. With runners at the corners and one out, a fly ball center was handled by senior
Kyle Phillips (Orlando). The preseason all-conference selection tossed out the runner attempting to tag at second before the lead runner tapped home for a critical double play. Junior righty
Nelson Alvarez (Miami) was lights out in relief to give the Bulls their fifth win.
Head coach Billy Mohl on Phillips's double-up to preserve the lead:
"That was the story of the game and the biggest play. It was a momentum changer and his ability to get the ball into second to prevent the run from scoring was huge."
Key Stats
3 – Bodrato scored three runs, going 2-for-3.
7.0 – Sophomore righty
Baron Stuart (Okeechobee, Fla.) was strong again, going 7.0 innings for his third win of the year. He's tossed 15.0 innings his last two starts, allowing just four runs.
2 – Bello matched a career best with two hits, hitting a double and driving in two runs.
Nota-Bulls
- Alvarez picked up his sixth save of the year, striking out three over two perfect innings.
- Senior Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) went 2-for-4.
Up Next
The Bulls and Cougars continue the series Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) will face lefty Clay Aguilar.
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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