WICHITA, Kan. (May 13, 2023) – The University of South Florida Bulls (19-33, 7-14 AAC) dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader at Wichita State University (29-21, 12-8 AAC) as the Shockers bounced back from a loss on Friday to claim the weekend series. Wichita State won Saturday's games by scores of 9-2 and 12-1 (7 innings), respectively.
The teams played a Saturday doubleheader due to inclement weather forecast for Sunday afternoon.
Game 1
After scoring 10 runs on 17 hits in the series opener on Friday night, USF was held to just two runs on five hits in the loss.
The Bulls got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI-double by Eric Snow (Forsyth, Ga.) to plate Bobby Boser (Wesley Chapel) who opened the game with a single.
Snow went 3-for-3 in the ballgame with a walk, double and triple.
The Shockers tied the game in the bottom of the third inning and took the lead for good with a pair of home runs off Hunter Mink (Palm Harbor) in the fourth frame. Mink (6-6) allowed five runs on five hits over 5.0 IP. The right-hander matched his career high with nine strikeouts, but struggled with his command, walking four batters and hitting another.
John Montes (Toa Alto, Puerto Rico) added a solo home run for USF in the seventh inning, his seventh of the season and first since March 26th.
Game 2
The Shockers hit three home runs in both games on Saturday, and took an early 2-0 lead on a two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning of the finale. Wichita State broke the game open with seven runs in the fourth inning and led by an 11-0 count before the Bulls got on the board.
Rafael Betancourt (Deltona) drove in USF's lone run of the contest in the sixth inning to score Snow who tallied his second double of the day earlier in the frame.
Betancourt went 3-for-3 in the final game of the series.
Notable
- USF was playing the series without Daniel Cantu who broke his hand earlier in the week and will be out for the remainder of the season.
- Betancourt and Snow had seven hits apiece and combined for eight extra-base hits over the three-game series.
- Boser hit his 15th home run of the season on Friday night – the most by a Bull since Joe Genord (16) in 2018. Boser's home run total is tied for ninth in program single-season history.
Up Next
The Bulls return to Tampa for a four-game homestand to close the regular season. South Florida opens the homestand against Stetson on Tuesday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at USF Baseball Stadium.
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.
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