NEW ORLEANS (May 8, 2026) – University of South Florida baseball erupted for 16 runs and 18 hits in a pivotal Game 1 win against Tulane. After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, South Florida responded by scoring 16 runs to take control of the opener. The Bulls (30-18, 9-13 American) beat the Green Wave (23-28, 8-14 American) 16-6.
Nathan Earley continued his recent offensive surge, firing up the team with a game-tying three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. He is now tied with
Jake Kulikowski for the team lead with four home runs.
Earley went five for six on the night with five RBIs and a triple away from hitting for the cycle. He also stole a base. The last time a Bull had five hits in a game was last year by
Rafael Betancourt in a matchup at Memphis.
Ryan Pruitt went four for five with an RBI and a stolen base as well.
Jevin Relaford stole his 30th bag of the year, placing him tied for seventh in stolen bases in a single South Florida season with Tim Merrick, who stole 30 in 1991. This total is the most by a Bulls player since Gio Camaro set the program record with 50 stolen bases in 1996.
The 16 runs were the second-most South Florida has scored in a game this season, behind the program-record 29 against Georgia Southern. The Bulls last scored 16 runs in a game during a 16-6 run-rule win over Maine in 2024.
The Bulls had 18 hits and five stolen bases, and they are now a game ahead of Tulane in the American Conference standings. South Florida is now tied for eighth with Charlotte.
Kaden Smith started on the mound for South Florida, recording six strikeouts in four innings of work. He now has 43 strikeouts on the year.
Edwin Alicea relieved him in the fifth inning and also threw four innings, earning the win to become 6-4. He recorded five strikeouts and allowed just three hits and a walk.
Will Allen finished the game off in the ninth inning.
Notables:
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Jevin Relaford stole his 30th base of the year and is now tied for seventh in stolen bases in a single South Florida season.
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Nathan Earley went five for six with five RBIs and a three-run home run.
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Ryan Pruitt went four for five with an RBI.
• This is the second-most runs the Bulls have scored in a game this season.
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Edwin Alicea is now 6-4 on the year.
• The Bulls are now a win away from winning their first series at Tulane since 2001.
Up Next:
Game 2 of the three-game series against Tulane in New Orleans is scheduled for Saturday, May 9. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will stream on ESPN+ as the Bulls look to secure the series win.
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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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