STORRS, CONN., May 11, 2019 – The USF baseball team got great starting pitching and put together timely hits when it counted to sweep Saturday's doubleheader at UConn for a 2-1 series win.
It was a pitcher's duel in the first game, as there was no score heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Huskies (30-21, 10-11 The American) struck first in the frame to make it 1-0. The Bulls (25-25, 7-14 The American) immediately answered with one in the top of the seventh, then scored two in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead.
UConn homered to lead off the bottom half, making it 3-2. In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies loaded the bases with two outs, but USF was able to escape, forcing a rubber match.
UConn took a 1-0 lead in the second game, plating a run in the third. The Bulls had their chances to match, stranding nine runners over the first six innings. USF finally broke through with two outs in the seventh.
Kyle Phillips (Orlando) was on third and
Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) was on first, as classmate
Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) singled to center, tying the game. In the next at-bat, freshman
Julio Cortez (Weston, Fla.) added to his big day with a two-RBI single, making it 3-1.
Dylan Burns (Vero Beach, Fla.) tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit for his first career save.
Key Stats
2 – For the second-straight game,
Jake Sullivan (Tampa) had two hits, scoring a run in Game Two.
3 – Cortez led the offense in the second game of the doubleheader, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.
6.0 – Junior righty
Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) pitched 6.0 innings for the second straight week. He allowed just one unearned run on four hits.
7.0 – Senior
Alec Wisely (Jacksonville, Fla.) pitched 7.0 strong innings in the second game, allowing one run on four hits.
Nota-Bulls
- Senior Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) went 2-for-4 in the second game and had five hits in the two games he played in during the series.
- Genord went 2-for-4 in Game Two Saturday.
- Chatfield had the go-ahead RBI in the first game and the tying RBI in the second game of the doubleheader.
- Freshman Brandon Schrepf (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) did it all in Game One Saturday. On the mound, he got the final out of the eighth then had a sac fly at the plate which drove in what was ultimately the winning run, making it 3-1. He also picked up his first win on the year.
Up Next
The Bulls begin the final week of the regular season with a four game homestand. USF hosts Jacksonville Tuesday night before a series with Wichita St. The Shockers (7-13 The American) have a half game lead in the league standings for the final spot in the conference tournament.
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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