ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2026) – University of South Florida baseball (9-2) wins the War on I-4 in 2026, defeating UCF (4-5) 9-2 in Game 1, and 2-1 in 10 innings in Game 2.
 
In Game 1, the Bulls wasted no time and got on the board at the top of the first. A two-out single by Jake Kulikowski was followed by a first-pitch two-run home run by Nathan Earley to right field. South Florida would lead 2-0 to end the first.
 
The Golden Knights fought back in the bottom of the second. They started the half inning off with two walks for Landon Moran and Cayden Gaskin. After a strikeout, Jordan Lodise reached on a fielder's choice, and Moran scored on a fielding error by Jack Lutz. Next batter up, Braden Calise singled to short, scoring Gaskin. The game would be tied at two heading to the third.
 
The tie game wouldn't last long, as South Florida reclaimed the lead in the top of the third. A lead-off single by Ryan Pruitt extended his hit streak to 10, recording at least one hit in every game so far this season. A one-out single through the right side for Kulikowski would advance Pruitt to third. Earley followed in Kulikowski's path and singled through the right side to score Pruitt. The Bulls would lead 3-2, ending the third.
 
The Bulls remained relentless and continued to extend their lead with back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, Pruitt hit a lead-off double, shortly after advancing on a passed ball, and was then hit in by a Bradke Lohry single up the middle. Kulikowski later doubled, and later Lance Trippel hit a double off the top of the wall in left field, scoring Lohry and Kulikowski. In the sixth with a 6-2 lead, Lohry reached on a throwing error, a pitch hit Kulikowski, and Earley walked. Matt Rose entered the game to pinch-hit for Eli Thomas, and while he was at bat, Lohry scored on a wild pitch. Rose then hit a groundout short, but scored Kulikowski. Trippel reached on an error and scored Earley, giving South Florida a 9-2 lead it would hold for the remainder of the game.
 
Game 2 of the day would be a pitching battle. No runs were scored until the bottom of the eighth. Stephen Chuka reached on an error and advanced to second base. John Smith III would later hit an RBI single up the right side to score Chuka and give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead heading to the ninth.
 
South Florida immediately fought back and extended the game in the top of the ninth. Earley singled through the left side to lead off the inning. Next due up, Thomas doubled to right field, scoring pinch runner Gabe Graulau. We would head to extra innings tied at 1.
 
In the top of the tenth, Jevin Relaford hit a lead-off double to right field. Lutz then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Relaford to third. With two outs, Lohry singled through the left side to score Relaford, and give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. Landon O'Donnell got the save in the bottom of the tenth.
 
Edwin Alicea got the start on the mound for South Florida in Game 1, Michael Senay in Game 2. Each recorded quality starts on the day. Landon O'Donnell recorded his third save of the season, as the South Florida Bulls advance to 9-2 on the season.
 
Notables:
• Ryan Pruitt has had at least one hit in every game, currently giving him an 11-game hit streak.
• Edwin Alicea and Michael Senay both had quality starts on the mound.
• Nathan Earley hit his first home run of the season.
• Landon O'Donnell earned his third save of the season.
• Alicea has now recorded his second win of the season.
• Ethan Sutton was awarded his first win of the season.
 
Up Next:
South Florida looks to sweep the War on I-4 and win its 10th game of the season on Sunday, March 1st. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program, founded in 1966, enters its 61st season in 2026. Head coach Mitch Hannahs returns for his second year at the helm after leading the Bulls to 32 wins in his debut season—the program's highest win total since 2018. USF also posted 16 victories in American Athletic Conference play, marking its best conference showing since joining the league.
 
Hannahs, a 2023 ABCA NCAA Division I Midwest Region Coach of the Year, was named USF's eighth head coach on June 8, 2024, after an 11-year run at Indiana State where he tallied 355 wins, six conference titles, and five NCAA Regional appearances.
 
USF has made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic Super Regional berth in 2021. The Bulls have captured five conference tournament titles (three Sun Belt, one Metro, one American) and six regular season championships (three Sun Belt, two Metro, one C-USA).
 
The program continues to develop top-tier talent with 134 MLB Draft picks all-time, including three selections in 2025. Notable alumni include two-time MLB All-Star and 2018 first-round draft pick Shane McClanahan. Bulls have earned All-America honors 12 times and Freshman All-America recognition 19 times.
– #GoBulls –