TAMPA (March 12, 2022) – The University of South Florida Bulls (9-6) committed seven errors on Saturday afternoon in a 10-4 loss to the Bradley University Braves (4-7). Those defensive miscues led to four unearned runs for Bradley.
Carmine Lane (Lake Placid) gave South Florida a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI-groundout. Ben Rozenblum (Coral Springs) walked to lead off the inning, and scored on the play, ahead of a double by Drew Brutcher (Lakeland), but the Bulls settled for just one run in the frame.
The lead was short-lived though as the Bulls' defensive struggles began in the third inning. USF committed three errors in the inning which led to five Bradley runs.
The Braves tacked on two more runs in the sixth, another pair in the seventh and one more in the top of the ninth.
USF stagged a late rally in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the 10-1 deficit it faced entering the final inning.
Matt Ruiz (Hialeah) led off the ninth with an infield single and Jackson Mayo (St. Johns) followed with a double. Both runners came in to score on a pinch-hit double by Keanu Jacobs-Guishard (Philipsburg, St. Maarten). Two more Bulls reached base in the inning and Lane accounted for the final tally of the day with an RBI-double.
Four of the Bulls' seven total hits in the ballgame came in the ninth inning.
Brad Lord (Crawfordville) was charged with the loss for South Florida. Lord (2-2) allowed five runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks over 3.0 IP.
Notable
- The Bulls' seven errors are the most in a game since committing eight (program record) on May 15, 2010.
- Brutcher, Lane and Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville) each extended their streak of reaching base safely in 15 straight games to begin the season.
- Mayo is hitting 6-for-10 with three extra-base hits and four RBI over the first two games of the Bradley series.
Up Next
The Bulls conclude their eight-game home stand and current three-game series against Bradley on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tampa.
For tickets, please visit usfbullstix.com or call 1-800-Go-Bulls.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 57th season in 2022. Head coach Billy Mohl is entering his fifth season at the helm. The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 18 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Drew Brutcher and Carmine Lane in 2021. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first-round selection in pitcher Shane McClanahan, who made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series and was the Rays' postseason game one starter in 2021.
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