TAMPA, Fla. (March 13, 2026) – University of South Florida baseball opens a four-game weekend series with a victory. The Bulls (15-3) defeated the Columbia Lions (2-8), 6-3.
The game started in a pitchers' battle, with the first runs of the game not coming until the bottom of the fifth for South Florida.
Eli Thomas led off the half inning with a walk, followed by
Lance Trippel, who singled to right field, advancing Thomas to second. To load the bases,
Bradke Lohry walked.
Jacob Green singled through the left side to score Thomas and Trippel, and
Jevin Relaford singled on a bunt to load the bases once more.
Ryan Pruitt and
Nathan Earley both drew walks to score Lohry and Green. The Bulls hit around the order, and Thomas came back up to bat, who singled to right center to score Pruitt and Relaford. The Bulls would lead 6-0 at the end of the fifth.
Columbia fought back in the top of the eighth inning. After 7.2 innings, three strikeouts, and just two hits,
Edwin Alicea's start on the mound came to an end as he was replaced by
Kaden Smith with runners on first and second. Lions second baseman Jack Kail was the first batter Smith would face, and he hit a three-run homer off the video board in right field. South Florida would lead 6-3 for the remainder of the game.
Bulls starter Alicea earned his fourth victory of the season, and his second quality start. Smith threw 1.1 innings of relief, recording two strikeouts.
Notables:
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Edwin Alicea earned his fourth win and second quality start of the season.
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Nathan Earley extended his reached base streak to 14, and
Jevin Relaford to 13.
• The Bulls are now 12-1 at home this season.
• This is the second game this season in which a Bull did not attempt to steal a base.
• South Florida is 7-0 in games in which a Bull has hit a home run.
Up Next:
South Florida and Columbia face off in games two and three of the four-game series tomorrow, March 14th, in a doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for noon, and both games 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.
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