The Bulls gear up for their first weekend series on the road in 2020 that starts Friday
MATCHUP: USF (5-7) vs No. 1 Florida (13-0)
SCHEDULE: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Gainesville, Fla. | Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
FOLLOW: Live Stats, Twitter updates @USFBaseball
RADIO: BullsUnlimited (Friday) & BullsUnlimited 2 (Saturday & Sunday)
GAME NOTES: (PDF)
TAMPA (March 5, 2020) – The USF baseball team heads to Gainesville for a three-game weekend series against No. 1 Florida that begins Friday night.
The Bulls (5-7) look to keep the momentum they gained from their three-game series sweep against Northwestern this past weekend. The starting rotation was on fire against the Wildcats, striking out 29 batters. The Bulls’ bats came alive in the series finale on Sunday, March 1 scoring a season-high 10 runs, while combining for 11 hits for the second time this season.
Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll following his Friday night performance against Northwestern. Sullivan recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts through six innings of work. The senior right-hander picked up his first win of 2020, when the Bulls defeated the Wildcats, 2-1.
USF’s pitching staff currently sits fifth in the nation for strikeouts per nine innings with an average of 12.4. The weekend starters have combined for 79 strikeouts through the first three weeks of play.
Several Bulls found themselves top three in The American in categories after three weeks of play. Jack Jasiak (Spring Hill, Fla.) is first in the conference in batters struck out looking (11). Jasiak and Carson Ragsdale (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) sit second in strikeouts (27). Jasiak also holds second in innings pitched (20.1). Dontae Mitchell (St. Petersburg, Fla.) sits third in walks (11).
Sullivan will get the call for Friday’s series opener. Jasiak will be on the hill for the Bulls to start the Saturday evening tilt. On the mound to close out the series will be Ragsdale on Sunday.
The Matchup
The Bulls will travel to Gainesville for the 91st time to face No. 1 Florida. The Gators head into the weekend matchup currently leading the all-time series between the two programs, 64-26.
Know the Foe
· No. 1 Florida heads into the weekend series against the Bulls at 13-0. The Gators split the home-at-home series against Bulls last season.
· Junior Tommy Mace will get the call to open up the series on the mound for No. 1 Florida. Junior right-hander Jack Leftwich will be on hill to start game two on Saturday. The Gators will go to freshman left-hander Hunter Barco to close out the series on Sunday.
Notable
· The last time the Bulls faced a No. 1 team was in 2018 against top-ranked Florida.
· The last time USF defeated a ranked team was 6-1 over No. 5 Florida on Feb. 19, 2019.
· JD Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) heads into the weekend on a five-game hitting streak.
· Carson Ragsdale and Jack Jasiak lead the Bulls with 27 strikeouts each.
Up Next
The Bulls will host Pittsburgh and Florida A&M for a pair of midweek games, March 10-11.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls earned their third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first rounder, pitcher Shane McClanahan. Third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success in head coach Billy Mohl first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months of the season. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
– #GoBulls –
