Matt Ruiz homered and doubled twice in the Bulls’ sweep over the Tigers.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 8, 2021) – An impromptu doubleheader on Saturday led to plenty of late game theatrics and drama between the University of South Florida (20-22, 10-10 AAC) and the University of Memphis (14-32, 4-20 AAC), as the USF Bulls prevailed with a sweep of the Tigers for their first conference series win of the season.
USF saw its one-run lead slip away in the ninth inning of the opener only to come away with a 7-4 victory in 10 innings, and held off a late Memphis rally in the finale for a 6-5 win.
The Bulls posted a 2.25 ERA over the four-game series, limiting Memphis to 14 runs after the Tigers had scored 33 in their most recent series against UCF.
Game 1
Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) played hero in the opener with a three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning. The round-tripper was just the second of the redshirt sophomore’s career – the other coming in his very first collegiate at-bat in 2019, which was also a three-run blast.
Gonzalez finished the game with a career-high four RBI, the first of which came on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth frame. USF scored three runs in the fifth to erase a one-run deficit and take a 3-1 advantage.
The Tigers made it a one-run affair once more with a run in the bottom of the sixth, where the game remained until Matt Ruiz (Hialeah) tacked on a big insurance run with a two-out solo homer in the eighth inning.
Memphis answered with single runs in the bottom of the eighth and ninth to send the game to extras.
On the mound, Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) was electric once again in a no-decision. The redshirt senior allowed two runs on five hits and struck out a season-high 13 over 6.0 IP. Sullivan’s strikeout total reached 11 after just four innings.
Sullivan and Orion Kerkering (Venice) combined for a season-best 22 strikeouts on the mound.
Kerkering (4-3) earned the win after fanning a career-high nine batters. The redshirt freshman yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits over 4.0 IP. After allowing the tying run to score in the ninth inning, the winning run reached third base against Kerkering, but the right-hander escaped the jam to set up Gonzalez’s heroics in extras.
Game 2
With a series victory in their sights, the Bulls jumped out to a 6-1 lead on the Tigers after four innings in the nightcap. Ruiz, Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville), Carmine Lane (Lake Placid), Joaquin Monque (Weston) and Nelson Rivera (Toa Alto, Puerto Rico) each drove in runs in what looked to be a run-away victory.
Memphis did not go down quietly though on its home field, and proceeded to score four unanswered runs from the fifth inning on, with the rally extending into the bottom of the ninth frame.
The Tigers opened the ninth with a leadoff double which came around to score two batters later off Logan Lyle (Bartow). The tying run moved into scoring position with one out, and advanced to third with two outs before Tanner Mink (Palm Harbor) recorded the final out of the day for his first career save.
For the second weekend in a row, Lyle (3-1) was the winning pitcher of record after providing USF with a much-needed long relief effort on the mound.
Notable
- USF not only tallied its first conference series win of the season, but its first series triumph since March 19-21 vs. FAU.
- Sullivan logged his fifth quality start of the year (third straight), and owns a 1.91 ERA (7 ER/33 IP) with 40 strikeouts over his last five starts.
- Brad Lord (Crawfordville) made the start in Game 2 and struck out five while allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over 4.2 IP.
- Sullivan, Dylan Burns (Vero Beach) and Jack Jasiak (Spring Hill) each tossed quality starts in the series.
- Mink has struck out four batters and not allowed an earned run over his last four appearances (3.0 IP)
- Monque led the Bulls’ offense in Memphis, batting .462 (6-13) with four walks and four RBI.
Up Next
The Bulls conclude their regular season road slate next weekend at Wichita State. The four-game series set for May 14-16 will begin on Friday, May 14 with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
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 –
