Freshman Ruiz continued his hot offensive start with another multi-hit game.
TAMPA (Feb. 21, 2021) – The USF baseball team (0-3) jumped in front big early, and rallied late, only to see Florida Gulf Coast (3-0) come from behind to secure a 12-10 win in Fort Myers on Sunday afternoon.
The series opener on Friday at USF was scoreless through nine innings, but the two teams combined for 39 runs over the final two games of the three-game series.
Drew Brutcher (Lakeland), Riley Hogan (Orlando) and Matt Ruiz (Haileah) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the series finale. Brutcher launched his first collegiate home run and the first long ball of the season for USF in the fourth inning. Ruiz and Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville) both recorded two RBI in the setback Sunday.
The Bulls led the Eagles, 7-0, after the top of the fourth, but the home team rallied for eight runs in the bottom of the frame to take an 8-7 lead. USF quickly knotted the score at 8-8 in the top of the fifth where the score remained until FGCU scored four unanswered runs from the sixth to the eighth inning to take a 12-8 advantage.
Just as they had in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Bulls’ offense put together a late rally and scored twice in the top of the ninth before FGCU finally closed the door to secure the win.
Baron Stuart (Okeechobee) earned a no-decision on the mound in his first start of the season for USF. The redshirt-junior allowed five runs (four earned) on just two hits over 3.2 IP. Stuart struck out three and walked four.
Four of the Eagles’ eight runs in the fourth frame were unearned as the home team benefited from five total unearned runs.
Notable
- Ruiz has started his collegiate career at the plate going 8-for-16.
- Brutcher has begun his freshman campaign going 5-for-11 with five walks and a .647 OBP.
- Cantu has two RBI in each of his last two games and leads USF with four total.
- The Bulls have reached double digits in hits in each of their first three games this season (35 total)
Up Next
The Bulls host Florida A&M for a four-game set at USF Baseball Stadium, February 26-28. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 26 with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. All games in the series can be watched live on ESPN+. Fan attendance is limited to team pass list only.
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 –
