TAMPA, Fla. (May 16, 2026) – University of South Florida baseball fell to Wichita State on Senior Day, ending USF's postseason hopes. The Bulls finished the season 32-21 overall and 11-16 in American Conference play after falling to the Shockers, 8-5, in 10 innings.
Nathan Earley hit a two-run home run 397 feet in the bottom of the first to tie the game. He has hit a home run in three of the last four games.
Jacob Green hit a double that scored two, tying the game 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings. He also stole a base.
Jackson Mirza and
Bradke Lohry both went 2-for-4 on the day, with Lohry also recording an RBI. The Shockers scored three in the top of the tenth to earn the victory and clinch a spot in the conference tournament.
Dominic Pontbriant started the game on the mound for South Florida, throwing three innings before being relieved by
Will Allen, who also threw three innings.
Edwin Alicea received the loss in his third consecutive appearance. Across 3.2 innings, he recorded three strikeouts and finished the season 6-5.
Prior to the first pitch, South Florida honored its seniors with a special senior ceremony. Those honored were
Jevin Relaford,
Matt Rose,
Bradke Lohry,
Rafael Betancourt,
Jacob Green,
Lance Trippel,
Nathan Earley,
Ryan Pruitt,
Landen Yorek,
Jorge DeCardenas,
Juan Correa, and
James Hill.
The Bulls' 2026 season comes to an end, falling short of the American Conference Tournament by a game.
Notables:
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Nathan Earley hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
• Earley finished the season hitting a home run in three of the last four games.
•
Jacob Green hit a double that scored two, tying the game 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
•
Jackson Mirza and
Bradke Lohry both had two hits, with Lohry also recording an RBI.
•
Edwin Alicea finished the year 6-5.
• South Florida finishes the season 32-21 and 11-16 in the American Conference.
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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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