Hunter Mink is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 15 strikeouts over his last two starts.
TAMPA (April 5, 2024) – Hunter Mink (Palm Harbor) turned in his second straight stellar outing on the mound Friday night as the University of South Florida Bulls (17-13, 4-3 AAC) picked up a 7-3 victory over the Wichita State Shockers (19-11, 5-2 AAC) at USF Baseball Stadium. The Shockers entered the three-game weekend series atop the AAC standings.
Mink (3-3), who twirled a complete game his last time out, logged eight innings on Friday night and struck out a season-high nine batters. He allowed three runs on six hits and issues just one walk. Mink logged his third quality start of the season and leads the South Florida pitching staff with eight in his career.
Friday’s game also saw a return to the field for Rafael Betancourt (Deltona), Bobby Boser (Wesley Chapel) and Eric Snow (Forsyth, Ga.).
The Bulls’ offense tagged Wichita starter Caden Favors for six runs (five earned) – the most in the left-handers’ career. Favors, a two-time AAC Pitcher of the Week in 2024, entered the night with a 5-1 record and a sparkling 2.79 ERA.
USF manufactured its first three runs of the game with small ball. Matt Rose (Clearwater) broke the scoring seal with an RBI-single in the second inning, Drew Brutcher (Lakeland) gave the Bulls back a 2-1 lead in the fifth frame on a groundout, and a bunt single by Betancourt stretched the advantage to 3-1 in the sixth inning.
Ben Rozenblum (Coral Springs) delivered the big blow of the night, a three-run homer in the seventh inning.
Mink went back to the mound for the top of the ninth inning, looking to pen back-to-back complete games, but surrendered a leadoff double to end his outing. Chandler Dorsey (Lakeland) nailed down the final three outs of the ballgame and struck out a pair of Shockers.
Notable
- Mink is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts over his last two outings. He had a pair of nine strikeout games in 2023, the last coming at Wichita State on May 23.
- Boser, who has been on the shelf since March 10, entered the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.
- Betancourt made his first start at DH since an injury on March 19 and Snow was back at shortstop for the first time in five games.
- Rose tallied a career-best three hits and is batting .471 (8-for-17) over his last five games.
- The Bulls recorded a season-high 16 hits on Friday night. USF has tallied 10 or more hits in a game 18 times this season.
Up Next
The Bulls and Shockers continue their series on Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. in Tampa.
Double Play Passes, which include one ticket to every home baseball and softball game, can be purchased now for $99. Group and single game tickets are also on sale and can be purchased here or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 59th season in 2024 under head coach Billy Mohl (seventh season). The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 19 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Eric Snow in 2023. Four Bulls were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Former 2018 first-round selection, Shane McClanahan, became the program’s first-ever MLB All-Star in 2022 and was the starting pitcher for the American League.
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