TAMPA, Fla. (April 17, 2026) – University of South Florida dropped Game 1 of a three-game series against a UAB team that is towards the top of the American Conference. The Bulls (26-11, 6-7 American) fell to the Blazers (24-14, 9-4 American), 8-4.
 
The Blazers got on the board immediately in the top of the first. Landon Beaver reached on a fielder's choice. He would score when a ball would be hit to center field off the glove of Ryan Pruitt for an error. UAB led 1-0 to end the first.
 
The Blazers extended their lead in the top half of the fourth inning. Beaver led the inning off by being hit by a pitch. Alex Dupuy singled to the pitcher on a bunt to advance him to second. Brady Waugh laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Andrew Hunt would score them both with an RBI single up the middle. Wesley Helms advanced him to third on a single hit through the left side of the infield and later stole second. Baylor Roberts would hit a single to left field to score both and later stole second. Kevin Hall Jr. hit a single to second base, and Roberts would fly around the bases and score on the play. The five-run inning gave the Blazers a 6-0 lead to end the fourth inning.
 
The Bulls got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Lance Trippel hit a single down the left field line, to extend his reached base streak to 21 games. Joey Brenczewski singled through the right side of the infield and advanced Trippel to third. He would score on an RBI single to shortstop from South Florida shortstop, Jevin Relaford. The score would be 7-1 UAB, headed to the seventh.
 
The Blazers took back the Bulls' run immediately at the top of the seventh. Roberts would lead the inning off by being hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hall Jr. He scored on an RBI single to left field hit by Head. The Blazers led 7-1 headed to the seventh inning stretch.
 
South Florida fought back in the bottom of the seventh. Jacob Green struck out swinging but reached first on a dropped third strike wild pitch. Trippel continues to be a key bat for the Bulls and hit a 363-foot two-run home run to left field. The lead would be 7-3 UAB, headed to the eighth.
 
The lead was cut even more in the bottom of the eighth by the Bulls. Relaford singled through the left side of the infield and later stole second and third. He now has 24 stolen bases on the season. Jake Kulikowski doubled down the left field line to score Relaford, and cut the lead to 7-4, Blazers.
 
UAB took the run right back in the top of the ninth. Beaver walked, followed by Dupuy. He grounded out, and while Beaver was running to third, first baseman Joey Brenczewski had an errant throw, allowing him to score. The final score would be 8-4, Blazers.
 
Edwin Alicea got his traditional Friday start on the mound for the Bulls. He threw four complete innings, recording two strikeouts while giving up six runs, five earned, on six hits and no walks. He is now 5-4 on the year. Will Allen, Nakni Anna, and Brisen Tweedy all made appearances.
 
Notables:
• Lance Trippel is on a 21-game reached base streak, after having a two-run home run and three hits on the night.
• Jevin Relaford had two stolen bases, getting his season total to 24. He also had three hits, a run, and an RBI.
• South Florida is 12-3 in games in which a Bull has hit a home run.
• Edwin Alicea is now 5-4 on the year.
 
Up Next:
Game 2 of the three-game series against UAB is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Tickets:
Interested in tickets for the 2026 Bulls baseball season? Click here to learn more.
 
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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 –