Dawson Barr struck out four over 3.0 IP in his start for the Bulls.
TAMPA (March 23, 2021) – The USF Bulls (9-9) put the tying run on base in the ninth inning, looking to manufacture another one of their late rallies, but it wasn’t to be on Tuesday night as the UNF Ospreys (6-11) held on for a 3-2 win.
Both USF runs in the ballgame came on sacrifice flies as the Bulls could only muster four hits in the setback.
The Ospreys broke the scoring seal with a solo homer in the fourth inning, but the Bulls were quick to answer in the bottom of the frame. Riley Hogan (Orlando) was hit by a pitch to start things off and moved to third on a double by Carmine Lane (Lake Placid). Roberto Peña (Caracas, Venezuela) and Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) each followed with a sacrifice fly to give USF a 2-1 advantage.
It remained a one-run USF lead until the seventh when UNF plated a pair of runs to take the lead which held as the final score.
Baron Stuart (Okeechobee) was tagged with his first loss of the season after allowing both runs in the seventh inning.
Logan Lyle (Bartow), Connor Churchill (Tampa), Brad Lord (Crawfordville), Joseph Sanchez (Miami) and Orion Kerkering (Venice Beach) each made scoreless relief appearances.
Notable
- Dawson Barr (Flower Mound, Texas) struck out four and allowed just one hit over 3.0 IP in his starting effort.
- USF’s pitching staff reached double digit strikeouts (11) for the 12th time this season.
- The Bulls went 1-for-13 with runners on base and 0-6 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
- Lane accounted for two of USF’s four hits.
- Drew Brutcher (Lakeland) reached base safely for the 18th consecutive game with a walk.
Up Next
The Bulls face their toughest test of the season this weekend at No. 6 Texas Tech for a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 26.
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 –
