TAMPA, FL., MARCH 1, 2025 – University of South Florida baseball (6-4; 0-0 AAC) fell to UCF (8-3; 0-0 Big 12) in seven-innings, 12-1 in the middle game of a three-game series at USF Baseball Stadium.
USF took the opener of the three-game set 13-3 on Friday. The teams will finish the series on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+. The Bulls are looking for their third straight series win to start the season.
UCF jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the top of the first as the Knights batted around, giving the Bulls their largest deficit of the season. UCF got on the board with a two-tun homer which followed a hit batsman. A single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Knights with two outs. The bases were cleared on a grand slam to left by Antonio Jimenez.
In the top of the fourth, UCF put another run on the board. A single and a walk stationed runners at first and second. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, a sacrifice fly to left scored the seventh run for the Knights.
Sebastian Greico homered to right with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to give the Bulls their lone run. Greico has now hit a home run in four straight games, he leads the team with five and with 15 RBI.
The Knights came back with four runs of their own in the top of sixth. A leadoff walk and single were followed by a base-clearing triple. A single and an error added another run for UCF. The Knights added their final run in the top of the seventh.
Key Stats:
• The Bulls fell behind in the first inning for the first time this season
• The 6-0 deficit in the first was the farthest behind the Bulls have been in a game this season
• The 12 by UCF is the most given up in a game by USF this season
• USF was out-hit 13-3, the Knights hit two home runs and a triple
• The two teams have combined for 29 runs in the first two games, 14 for USF and 15 for UCF.
Notables:
• Sebastian Greico, with a home run, has homered in four straight games and is on a team-high five-game hitting streak. He leads the team with 15 RBI and with five home runs.
• Marcus Brodil reached base for the 10th consecutive game. He is the only Bull to reach base in every game this season.
Up Next:
The Bulls and Knights close out the latest battle of the War on I-4 in the series finale on Sunday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. at the USF Baseball Stadium. The games can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on Bulls Unlimited radio.
Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls baseball at the USF Baseball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.
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About USF Baseball
The South Florida Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and will enter its 60th campaign in 2025. Mitch Hannahs was named South Florida’s eighth head coach in program history on June 8, 2024, after compiling 355 wins over 11 seasons at Indiana State. The 2023 ABCA NCAA DI Midwest Region Coach of the Year guided the Sycamores to six conference titles and five NCAA Regionals. The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. 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 and 19 Bulls have earned Freshman All-America accolades. USF has had 131 MLB Draft Picks. Former 2018 first-round draft pick, Shane McClanahan, is a two-time MLB All-Star.
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