Collin Sullivan allowed just two hits and struck out seven over seven innings.
HOUSTON, Texas (April 25, 2021) – For the second day in a row, the USF Bulls (15-19, 5-7 AAC) split a doubleheader at the University of Houston (15-20, 3-9 AAC) to conclude a four-game series on Sunday. Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) threw a two-hit shutout in the opener for a 4-0 victory, and the Cougars prevailed in the finale, 5-2.
Due to weather-related schedule changes earlier in the weekend, Sunday’s twinbill featured a seven inning affair in game one followed by a nine inning contest in game two.
Game 1
Sullivan (2-1) has been absolutely dominant on the mound for USF in two of his last three starts. Sunday’s outing was the second career shutout for the redshirt senior, and first since May 17, 2019 against Wichita State.
Sullivan allowed just three base runners, and struck out seven in his fourth career complete game.
Jake Sullivan (Tampa) staked his battery mate to a 1-0 lead with an RBI-single in the top of the second inning, and chased home another run with a sac fly in the fourth.
Riley Hogan (Orlando) continued his offensive tear with a two-run double in the seventh which was more than enough cushion for C. Sullivan to finish his work in the bottom of the frame for the win.
Game 2
Seeking a Sunday sweep, and a series victory, the Bulls faced an early 2-0 deficit after Houston plated a pair of runs off Brad Lord (Crawfordville) in the top of the first inning.
USF got the ballgame back to even with two runs in the third. Carmine Lane (Lake Placid) got the Bulls on the board with an RBI-single and Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville) knotted the score on an RBI-groundout.
Lord retired six straight batters in the third and fourth frames before a pair of USF errors in the fifth inning sparked a potential Cougar rally. Logan Lyle (Bartow) entered in relief and kept Houston off the board as the game remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the seventh.
Lyle worked a clean sixth inning, and retired the first two batters he faced in the seventh, but was unable to escape the frame without damage as Houston put together a three-run rally with two outs.
Offensively, the Bulls were limited to just one hit over the final four innings, a two-out double by Matt Ruiz (Hialeah) in the eighth.
Notable
- C. Sullivan is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA (4 ER/20.2 IP) and 20 strikeouts over his last three starts.
- Hogan owns a season-long seven-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 26 straight.
- Lyle was charged with his first earned runs of the season in the game two loss (18.2 IP).
- The game one shutout was USF’s fourth of the season.
Up Next
The Bulls return home for a four-game series against Cincinnati next weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 30 at USF Baseball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. Sunday’s series finale will be the Bulls’ annual “Cut for the Cure” game. For more details, or to make a donation, click here.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 56th season in 2021. The Bulls have won 1,628 games entering the 2021 season and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three since 2015. The Bulls have won four conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt and 1 Metro) and had 126 all-conference selections. USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first round selection in pitcher Shane McClanahan, who appeared in the 2020 World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Bulls saw continued success in head coach Billy Mohl’s first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, and making the program’s latest NCAA Tournament appearance while also achieving a ranking in multiple polls for the final two months of the season.
– #GoBulls –
