ORLANDO, Fla. (April 3, 2022) – The University of South Florida Bulls wrapped up opening weekend of American Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader at UCF on Sunday. Saturday's game was postponed due to inclement weather, and UCF took both games of Sunday's twinbill to complete a series sweep of South Florida. The Knights claimed Sunday's opener, 4-0, and came from behind in the finale for an 8-4 win.
USF falls to 18-10 (0-3 AAC) after dropping consecutive games for the first time this season. UCF improves to 18-10 (3-0 AAC).
The Bulls entered the weekend ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA in runs scored, home runs and slugging, while the Knights ranked 11th in the country in ERA. UCF's pitching limited USF to just four runs on seven hits over the three-game series.
Game 1
UCF posted its second straight shutout over USF while limited the Bulls to just one hit in Saturday's opening contest. Ben Rozenblum (Coral Springs) broke up the Knights' combined no-hit bid in the seven-inning affair with a double in the final frame.
Brad Lord (Crawfordville) went the distance on the mound for South Florida, allowing four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts over 6.0 IP.
Game 2
The Bulls' offense finally got going in finale, plating four runs in the top of the second inning. Nelson Rivera (Toa Alto, Puerto Rico) sparked the big inning with his first collegiate home run and Jackson Mayo (St. Johns) capped the frame with an RBI-double.
Unfortunately, just as quickly as the offense got going, it cooled off and USF was unable to record a hit after the second inning.
UCF pulled in front with a five-run fifth and tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning.
Ethan Brown (Winter Gardens) made his first start of the season for the Bulls and blanked UCF over 3.0 IP while allowing just two hits and striking out three batters. Nolan Hudi (Safety Harbor) also turned in 2.1 IP of scoreless work from the bullpen.
Up Next
The Bulls return to Tampa for a non-conference tilt again UNF on Tuesday at 6 p.m. USF will then resume AAC action on the road once again next weekend at Tulane on April 8-10.
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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