USF Baseball: Bulls’ offense breaks out in 12-3 triumph over Bearcats

Roberto Peña reached base safely four times and drove in a run on Saturday.

TAMPA (May 1, 2021) – Jake Sullivan (Tampa) and Riley Hogan (Orlando) combined for seven RBI on Saturday afternoon as the USF Bulls (17-20, 7-8 AAC) rode an offensive explosion to a 12-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats (20-20, 9-10 AAC).

Less than 24 hours removed from a doubleheader split where the Bulls struggled to drive in runners in scoring position, USF broke out of its funk with a 7-for-11 effort in that same category.

The Bulls plated a pair in the first inning, capped on a sacrifice fly by Sullivan to take an early 2-0 advantage. Following a scoreless second, the Bearcats jumped in front with a trio of runs in the top of the third.

Cincinnati’s lead would be short lived though as Sullivan evened things on the scoreboard with an RBI-single to center in the bottom of the third.

The Bearcats wouldn’t scratch the plate again for the remainder of the ballgame, while the Bulls were just getting started.

A two-out double down the right field line by Daniel Cantu (Jacksonville) gave USF the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth before the Bulls exploded for five runs in the fifth, and plated three more for good measure in the bottom of the eighth.

Cantu, Hogan, Sullivan and Carmine Lane (Lake Placid) each had two hits and at least one RBI in the tilt.

With the offense firing on all cylinders, Logan Lyle (Bartow) gave the Bulls a lengthy and efficient relief outing after entering the game in the top of the third inning. In his longest relief appearance of the season, Lyle (2-1) scattered five hits and struck out four over 5.1 IP for the win.

Notable

  • Saturday marked the seventh time this season USF has scored double digit runs.
  • Cantu is 5-for-10 with two doubles, a triple, two RBI and five runs scored in the series.
  • Roberto Peña (Caracas, Venezuela) doubled and walked three times Saturday, and has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games.
  • Sullivan is batting .400 (6-for-15) with six RBI over his last five games.
  • Hogan is batting .442 (19-for-43) with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI over his last 10 games.

Up Next

The Bulls will aim for a series win over the Bearcats in Sunday’s finale. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at USF Baseball Stadium. Sunday also marks USF’s annual “Cut for the Cure” game. For more details, or to make a donation, click here.

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.

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