TAMPA (April 23, 2023) – The University of South Florida Bulls (17-24, 6-6 AAC) suffered an 11-1 defeat in eight innings on Sunday afternoon to the UCF Knights (23-17, 5-7 AAC) in the sixth and final meeting between the two teams during the regular season. Both teams won three games apiece and tallied a series win on the road in their two meetings.
South Florida entered Sunday's weekend finale looking to claim back-to-back series wins over UCF, but after a 14-run output on Saturday, the Bulls were held to just one run on three hits in the final game at USF Baseball Stadium.
Jack Cebert (Tampa) had his string of back-to-back quality starts snapped and suffered the loss on the mound. The right-hander allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 4.0 IP.
UCF tallied its first run of the day against Cebert in the top of the second inning after a tailor-made double play ball resulted in a fielder's choice and allowed the Knights to take a 1-0 lead.
USF tied the game in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Eric Snow (Forsyth, Ga.), but that would stand as the Bulls' lone tally of the afternoon.
The Knights reclaimed the lead with three runs in the fourth inning on four hits, including two bunt singles, and a wild pitch.
UCF busted the game open with five runs in the seventh inning, including a grand slam, and added two more in the eighth.
Bobby Boser (Wesley Chapel) recorded USF's only extra-base hit of the day, a triple to right-center field in the seventh inning.
Notable
- Boser is batting .389 (14-for-36) with two doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 14 RBI over his last 10 games.
- Cebert has recorded 19 strikeouts and just three walks over 18.1 IP in his last three starts.
Up Next
The Bulls continue their seven-game homestand on Tuesday, April 25 against FGCU. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Tampa.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 58th season in 2023 under head coach Billy Mohl (sixth season). 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 Bulls were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Former 2018 first-round selection, Shane McClanahan, became the program's first-ever MLB All-Star in 2022 and was the starting pitcher for the American League.
– #GoBulls –
