TAMPA, Fla. (March 31, 2026) – University of South Florida baseball lost its third game at home this season to Bethune-Cookman. The Bulls (22-7, 3-3 American) were defeated by the Wildcats (20-9, 8-1 SWAC) 6-5. This is the first time South Florida has lost to Bethune-Cookman at home in Tampa since 2012.
 
South Florida struck first immediately in the bottom of the first. Ryan Pruitt hit a leadoff double to left field to start the inning off. Bradke Lohry grounded out to shortstop to advance Pruitt to third. Matt Rose earned himself an RBI with a single up the middle to score Pruitt. South Florida led 1-0 to end the first.
 
The next runs wouldn't come until the fifth inning, in Bethune-Cookman's favor. Jeter Polledo started the top of the fifth off with a leadoff double. Maikol Lucena singled to left field to advance him to third. Jose Fernandez reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Polledo. Lucena advanced to second and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Bulls third baseman Jack Lutz. Michael Rodriguez would hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Lucena. Sergio Rivera singled through the left side to advance Fernandez to second. Christopher Watson would single to left field, scoring Fernandez and advancing Rivera to third. Rivera would score on a wild pitch, and Watson advanced to third. Darryl Lee would walk and later steal second. Finally, Andrey Martinez singled to left center to score both Watson and Lee. The six-run inning for the Wildcats would give Bethune-Cookman a 6-1 lead at the end of the fifth.
 
The Bulls fought back in the bottom half of the sixth. Lohry reached on an error by Wildcats second baseman, Polledo. Nathan Earley would walk, and both would score on an RBI double down the left field line from Lance Trippel. The score would be 6-3 Wildcats, ending the sixth.
 
A rally for the Bulls began in the bottom of the ninth, when Jack Lutz hit a one-out triple to right center. He would score on an RBI single through the right side from pinch-hitter Jackson Geiger. Jacob Green would walk to advance Geiger to second, and Easton Beach would enter the game to pinch run for him. Jake Kulikowski would then walk to load the bases with just one out. Pruitt was next due up and reached on a fielder's choice, and Kulikowski was out at second. Beach would score from third, and Green would advance to third as the tying run. The rally would come to an end after a strikeout swinging from Lohry, securing a victory for the Wildcats, 6-5.
 
Dominic Pontbriant started the game on the mound for the Bulls. He threw four scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while recording a strikeout. Will Allen received his first loss of the season.
 
Notables:
• This is the first South Florida loss at home to Bethune-Cookman since 2012.
• Jack Lutz is currently on a nine-game hitting streak.
• Bradke Lohry's reached base streak comes to an end at 15, tying the season record set by Pruitt to open the season. Lance Trippel is currently on a 14-game streak.
• Both teams entered the game with 231 strikeouts on the year; the Bulls recorded four, while the Wildcats earned five.
• Dominic Pontbriant threw four scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while recording a strikeout.
• Will Allen received his first loss of the season.
 
Up Next:
The Bulls host Memphis for a three-game conference series. The series will start a day early because of Easter Sunday. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m.
 
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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 –