Collin Sullivan strikes out 14 in the first game of the series versus the Wildcats.
TAMPA (Feb. 28, 2020) – Collin Sullivan recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts in six innings pitched as the Bulls (3-7) defeated Northwestern (3-4) 2-1 on Friday night at the USF Baseball Stadium.
Northwestern drew first blood, scoring one run in the top of the first, but Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) found his composure and struck out a career-high 14 batters en route to earning his first win of the season.
The Bulls capitalized on a Northwestern error to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. After reaching on an error, Dylan Buck (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) scored the Bulls’ first run of the game after yet another Northwestern error, allowing Julio Cortez (Weston, Fla.) to reach base. Jordan Santos (Tampa, Fla.) gave the Bulls the lead with a two-out RBI single to right field, scoring Cortez.
Those two runs proved to be enough as Graham Hoffman (Tampa, Fla.) picked up his first save of the season, striking out one batter through one inning of relief.
QUOTABLE
Coach Billy Mohl on Sullivan’s performance:
“That’s what we needed from him. Obviously, the first inning he came out of the gates giving up a walk, a single and didn’t look too sharp. Then all of a sudden, he flipped a gear. If we go back and look at Sullivan’s career, he’s kind of a slow starter but once he gets in that rhythm, he’s pretty fun to watch.”
Notable
· JD Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) went 2-for-4
· Nick Davila (Hialeah, Fla.) made his fourth appearance out of the Bullpen.
· Collin Sullivan recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts.
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 –
