Bulls score a season-high 15 runs in 15-8 win over Maryland
TAMPA, FL., MARCH 16, 2025 – University of South Florida baseball (9-8; 0-0 AAC) outscored Maryland (10-10; 1-2 Big Ten) 15-8 in the deciding game of a three-game series at USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls have won three of their five series this season.
USF captured the win on the strength of an offense that produced a season-high 15 runs. The offense was led by Matt Rose and Sebastian Greico. Rose had a career-high four hits and scored a career-best four runs. Greico tied his season high with three hits, scored four runs, his single game high as a Bull, and drove in two runs. The Bulls had their eye on the ball from the start, drawing 16 walks, the second-highest total since 2017. Nine of the walks came in the first two innings.
The Bulls were aided by a strong relief pitching performance by right-hander Jorge DeCardenas (1-0), who recorded his first win as a Bull. DeCardenas came on in relief of starter Corey Kling in the top of the third. He promptly struck out the side and retired the first six batters he faced, striking out four, and sent down 15 of the first 19 hitters he faced.
Both teams came out on the offensive, combining for eight runs in the first inning, three for Maryland and five for USF, and 11 in the first two innings.
Maryland opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first. A single and walk put two aboard. A three-run homer to right cleared the bases.
USF answered with five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-3 lead. Matt Rose singled with one out, followed by a walk to Sebastian Greico. After a pop-out, Bradke Lohry doubled to right center to score Rose. Five straight walks, four with the bases loaded, to Lance Trippel, Marcus Brodil, Carlos Jacome, Jackson Mayo, and Ryan Pruitt plated four more runs for the Bulls.
The Terrapins tied the game 5-5 with two runs in the top of the second, scoring on four singles with the help of a wild pitch.
In the home half of the second, USF bounced back with a run to take the lead 6-5. The Bulls scored without the benefit of a hit. Three straight walks were issued to Sebastian Greico, Carter Murphy and Bradke Lohry. Greico scored on a ground ball double play.
The Bulls scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to increase the lead to 8-5. Matt Rose singled, his second hit of the game. Sebastian Greico followed with a single, advancing Rose to second. Rose scored on a throwing error on a bunt by Carter Murphy, allowing Murphy to reach second and moving Greico to third. Bradke Lohry walked to load the bases with no outs. Greico scored on a groundout.
Maryland narrowed the lead to 8-6 with a run in the top of the sixth, scoring via a walk, wild pitch and a double.
A solo homer to right center by Jackson Mayo to lead off the bottom of the seventh restored the Bulls three-run lead. The Bulls added two more runs in the inning, Matt Rose drew a walk and was driven in by a double off the wall in right by Sebastian Greico. A single by Bradke Lohry scored Greico to give the Bulls a five-run lead at 11-6.
The Terrapins came back with 2 runs in the bottom of the eighth on two doubles and a single, closing the gap to three at 11-8.
USF loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Lance Trippel walked, Marcus Brodil singled. Following a sacrifice bunt, Jackson Mayo walked. A fielder’s choice by Ryan Pruitt scored Trippel and Brodil scored on a single by Matt Rose, who second while Pruitt stole third. A throwing error on the play allowed Pruitt to score. A single by Sebastian Greico scored Rose to make it 15-8.
Key Stats:
• USF scored a season-high 15 runs, marking the third time this season the Bulls scored in double digits.
• The last time USF scored 15 runs in a game was May 25, 2023 in a 15-4 win over UCF.
• The Bulls scored in the first inning for the seventh time this season, the Bulls are 6-1 in those games.
• Bulls Eye – USF batters drew a season-high 16 walks, nine came in the first two innings. The 16 walks are the most since 17 at Florida 5/9/2017.
• USF has led at some point in 13 of their 17 games.
• The win is the second for USF when not scoring first.
• The Bulls stole two bases, bringing their season total to 32.
Notables:
• Matt Rose had a career-high four hits and scored four runs, also a career-high. He led the Bulls with two hits and scored a run in Friday’s game and hit his first career home run Saturday. He had seven hits and scored six runs in the three-game series and is tied for the team high with a .333 avg.
• Sebastian Greico scored four runs, his single-game high as a Bull, and tied his season high with three hits. He leads the Bulls with 22 RBI and six home runs. Greico has reached base in seven of the last 10 games. Earlier this season he homered in four straight games, tied for the program high.
• Ryan Pruitt drove in a run, scored two runs, and stole a base. He leads the team with 21 hits, six doubles, and eight stolen bases. He tied for the team lead with a .333 avg, is second on the team with 18 RBI and has reached base in 14 of the Bulls’ 17 games. Pruitt hit his third home run of the season to lead off Saturday’s game. It was the first leadoff home run for USF since Daniel Cantu, February 19, 2023. He had five RBI and scored three runs in the series
• Jorge DeCardenas picked up his first win as a Bull. He came on in relief of starter Corey Kling in the top of the third and promptly struck out the side. He retired the first six batters he faced, striking out four, and sent down 15 of the first 19 hitters he faced. DeCardenas went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
• Bradke Lohry reached base on all five at bats with two hits and three walks. Lohry drove in two runs and scored a run.
• Marcus Brodil walked, singled and scored two runs. He has reached base in 16 of the Bulls 17 games and is second on the team with 18 hits. Brodil had four hits and scored three runs in the series
• Jackson Mayo hit his second home run of the season, walked twice and had two RBI.
• Right-hander Corey Kling made his first career start. His previous 14 appearances, six this season and eight last season, had been in relief. Kling went two innings, giving up five runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Up Next:
USF will wrap up a seven-game homestand when the Bulls host FGCU Tuesday, March 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the USF Baseball Stadium. The game 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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