TAMPA (May 1, 2022) – The University of Houston (29-15, 10-5 AAC) completed a three-game sweep of the University of South Florida (23-20, 4-11 AAC) on Sunday afternoon in Tampa with a 9-2 win in the weekend finale.  

Houston narrowly out-hit South Florida, 11-8, but launched three home runs and drew nine walks – tied for the second-most the Bulls have issued this season.

USF entered the weekend winners of four of its previous five games and was ranked inside the top 60 in the NCAA in walks allowed/9-innings on the mound and offensive home runs. The Bulls were limited to just two longballs in the series.

For the third straight game, the Cougars took an early 2-0 lead. On Sunday, it was with single runs in both the first and second innings. In the bottom of the second, Jarrett Eaton (Mobile, Ala.) came up with a clutch two-out, two-run double to tie the game for the Bulls. However, that was all the offense USF could muster for the remainder of the tilt.

Houston reclaimed the advantage, 5-2, on a three-run homer in the top of the third, and tacked on runs in the sixth and ninth frames to account for the final score.

Eaton and Marcus Brodil (Dunedin) each had two-hit days with a pair of doubles apiece.

Ethan Brown (Winter Gardens) made his fifth consecutive weekend start and suffered his first loss of the season. Joey Volini (Tampa) and Nolan Hudi (Safety Harbor) each recorded scoreless relief appearances out of the bullpen.

Notable

• Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) extended his season-long hitting streak to seven in a row.

Up Next

The Bulls will travel to Gainesville on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt at the site of their 2021 NCAA Regional victory. The Bulls and Gators are set to square off at 6 p.m. at Florida Ballpark.

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 57^th 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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