Bulls Ride Career Night by Corey Braun in 13-3 Win Over UCF
Bulls match season-high with 13 runs in series opener with Knights
TAMPA, FL., FEB. 28, 2025 – University of South Florida baseball (6-3; 0-0 AAC) scored a seven-inning 13-3 win over UCF (7-3; 0-0 Big 12) in the first game of a three-game series at USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls used a familiar formula, strong starting pitching and scoring first in their sixth win of the season.
Starter Corey Braun recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings, also a career-high, in notching his second win of the season. Braun retired the first 10 Knights, the most consecutive of his career, facing the minimum number of batters in the first three innings. Braun gave up four hits and three runs with four walks.
For the second straight game and the fifth time this season, USF scored in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead. The Bulls have scored first in seven of their nine games.
The Bulls opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Bradke Lohry walked to lead off the game and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. Following a strikeout, Sebastian Greico singled to right to drive Lowry. Greico advanced to second on the throw to the plate and moved to third on a wild pitch. Jackson Mayo singled to left, scoring Greico. A fly-out to right ended the inning for the Bulls.
USF extended the lead with five runs in the bottom of the third. As in the first, a leadoff walk by Bradke Lohry got things started. Lowry stole second, the Bulls 19th steal of the season. Marcus Brodil walked, prompting a pitching change by the Knights. Lance Trippel greeted the new pitcher with a single up the middle to score Lohry and move Brodil to second. Sebastian Greico cleared the bases with a three-run blast to right, his third straight game with a home run, giving him 4 RBI in the game. Jackson Mayo then doubled to right and advanced to third on a groundout. Mayo scored the fifth run of the inning on a groundout by Carter Murphy.
UCF got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Matt Prevesk singled with one out. Braun struck out the next batter. Antonio Jimenez homered to left center to make the score 7-2 USF. Braun hit the next batter then ended the inning with a his seventh strikeout of the game.
The Bulls got the run back in their half of the sixth. Matt Rose was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He was erased on a fielder’s choice as Bradke Lohry grounded to second. Marcus Brodil doubled to left, advancing Lowry to third. Lance Trippel drove in Lowry with a single to left, moving Brodil to third. Following a walk to Sebastian Greico, a double play ended the threat.
UCF bounced back with a run of their own in the top of the seventh. Braun got the first out on a fly to right center. He walked the next batter and was replaced by Brandon Keyster, who retired the first batter he faced then gave up a double to allow the run.
The Bulls reached double digits and ended the game with five runs in the home half of the seventh, Rafael Betancourt led off with a single. Anthony Quigley, running for Betancourt, stole second. Carter Murphy reached on an error, moving Quigley to third. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Pruitt allowed Quigley to score. Matt Rose walked and Murphy moved to second. A walk issued to Bradke Lohry loaded the bases with one out. Marcus Brodil got aboard on an infield hit, scoring Murphy. Following a pop out, Sebastian Greico singled to center to drive in two, his fifth and six RBI of the game, a career high. Kendrey Mayo walked to load the bases. A walk to Stewart Puckett, pinch hitting for Quigley, plated Brodil with the game-ending run.
Key Stats:
• USF starter Corey Braun didn’t allow his first base runner until the top of the fourth, on a one-out single. Braun has now struck out six or more batters in each of his first three starts as a Bull.
• The Bulls have scored in the first inning in five of their nine games this season
• USF has scored first in seven of their nine games and has led at some point in eight games
• The Bulls had two stolen bases in two attempts against UCF, bringing their season total to 20. USF entered the game ranked 32nd nationally in total steals.
• The Bulls had 10+ hits in a game for the fifth time this season.
• 13 runs vs. UCF ties the Bulls season high
Notables:
• Sebastian Greico has homered three straight games and is on a team-high four-game hitting streak. His six RBI are his most in a game as a Bull and he leads the team with 15. Greico leads the Bulls with four home runs and is first overall in the AAC. He recorded his team-high fifth multi-RBI game of the season and his third multi-hit game.
• Lance Trippel recorded his third multi-hit game and his third multi-RBI game of the season. He reached base for his fifth consecutive game.
• Bradke Lohry drew a career-high four walks and scored a career-high four runs, the most scored by a Bull in a game this season. He has reached base in eight consecutive games, leads the Bulls with 10 walks, five stolen bases and is second with nine runs scored.
• Marcus Brodil reached base for the ninth consecutive game. He tied his career-high with five putouts against the Knights.
• Matt Rose has reached base in all nine of the Bulls games.
• Ryan Pruitt drove in a run, his ninth RBI, second on the team. He failed reach base for the first time this season. He is tied for team high with 10 hits and lead the Bulld with four doubles.
Up Next:
The Bulls and Knights continue the War on I-4 on Saturday, March at 2:00 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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