The Bulls cap a five-game homestand Tuesday prior to a three-game set at No. 6 Texas Tech.
MATCHUP: USF vs. UNF (single game)
SCHEDULE: Tues., March 23 at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW: USF Live Stats I Twitter updates @USFBaseball
RADIO: BullsUnlimited (iheart Radio)
WATCH: ESPN+
TAMPA (March 23, 2021) – Coming off their third walk-off victory of the season, and a series win over previously-ranked FAU, the USF Bulls (9-8) host the University of North Florida (5-11) on Tuesday at USF Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
The Bulls snapped a five-game skid on Saturday and proceeded to win back-to-back contests against the Owls for a noteworthy series victory. Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville) ended the finale on Sunday with his first collegiate homer, a walk-off shot in the 11th inning for a 6-5 triumph.
Tuesday’s tilt will be USF’s penultimate mid-week contest as the Bulls gear up for AAC play beginning April 1st.
Head coach Billy Mohl (4th season) has announced Dawson Barr (Flower Mound, Texas) as USF’s starting pitcher on Tuesday opposite UNF. It will be the right-handers second start (third appearance) of the season.
The reigning AAC Player of the Week, Carmine Lane (Lake Placid), has recently taken over the mantle as the Bulls’ leading hitter with a .393 clip. The redshirt freshman batted .462 with a double, homer, five RBI and five runs over four games last week.
Drew Brutcher (Lakeland) has safely reached base in 17 consecutive games to begin his freshman campaign, and ranks among the nation’s leaders in several offensive categories, including homers (7), total bases (21), slugging (.761) and OBP (.500). Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) is hitting .361 (13-36) with five walks over his last 10 games and Roberto Peña (Caracas, Venezuela) is batting .400 (5-20) over his last five games. Peña provided a clutch three-run triple in the eighth inning in Sunday’s finale against FAU.
Collectively, the Bulls rank 27th in the country in batting average (.296) and 36th in hits (177). USF’s pitchers are 16th nationally in both strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.52) and total strikeouts (183).
Scouting UNF
The Ospreys have faced a challenging schedule thus far which has reflected on their record. UNF has opposed nationally-ranked Florida State, Florida and Georgia already this year. The Ospreys have gone 2-6 in those contests. UNF is most recently coming off a 3-1 series loss to UCF, including a 3-2 loss in 11 innings in the finale on Sunday.
The Ospreys are averaging nearly five runs/game while allowing over 6.5/contest. UNF has four starters hitting over .300 on the season, led by senior Trey Spartling-Williams (.341). Left-hander Zach Chappell is scheduled to make his first start (fourth appearance) against USF on Tuesday. The Bulls are batting .252 and slugging .362 against southpaws this season.
UNF posted a 32-25 record in 2019 and a 4-12 mark in their shortened 2020 campaign.
Up Next
USF will face its toughest test of the season this weekend at No. 6 Texas Tech. The three-game series is set to begin on Friday, March 26 in Lubbock, Texas.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 56th season in 2021. The Bulls have won 1,628 games entering the 2021 season and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three since 2015. The Bulls have won four conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt and 1 Metro) and had 126 all-conference selections. USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first round selection in pitcher Shane McClanahan, who appeared in the 2020 World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Bulls saw continued success in head coach Billy Mohl’s first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, and making the program’s latest NCAA Tournament appearance while also achieving a ranking in multiple polls for the final two months of the season.
– #GoBulls –
