Season begins with Saturday doubleheader at USF Baseball Stadium
NOTE: Due to weather concerns and a high probability of rain on Friday, USF baseball’s 2021 season opening series vs. FGCU was adjusted from the original schedule, with games now being played Saturday in Tampa and Sunday in Fort Myers.
MATCHUP: USF vs. Florida Gulf Coast (three-game series)
SCHEDULE: Saturday, 1 p.m. (doubleheader) at USF Baseball Stadium
Sunday, 2 p.m. at Swanson Stadium, Fort Myers
FOLLOW: USF Live Stats I Twitter updates @USFBaseball
RADIO: Saturday: BullsUnlimited (iheart Radio); Sunday: None
WATCH: Saturday: ESPN+ : https://www.espn.com/espnplus/catalog/e364bfcd-493d-3bfb-ac83-bd27d66fedd0/baseball#bucketId=29794&sourceCollection=Browse_By_Sport_New
Sunday: FGCU Youtube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1ISjt5aVZZLdGCQqVAPGw
GAME NOTES: https://gousfbulls.com/documents/2021/2/19/1_FCGU_2021_USF_Game_BSB_Notes_FINAL.pdf
TAMPA (March 19, 2021) – After nearly one full year since their last competition, the USF baseball team returns to the diamond to begin its 2021 campaign this weekend. The Bulls host Florida Gulf Coast for a double-header on Saturday at the USF Baseball Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. and will conclude the three-game set with the rubber match at FGCU on Sunday at 2 p.m.
In his fourth season at the helm of the Bulls, head coach Billy Mohl announced on Wednesday the following weekend pitching rotation for the Bulls: Jake Jasiak (Saturday Game 1), Brad Lord, (Saturday Game 2) and Baron Stuart (Sunday).
Jasiak impressed as a true freshman in an abbreviated 2020 campaign when the right-hander posted a 1-2 record and a 3.09 ERA (23.1 IP) to go along with 28 strikeouts. Lord will make his debut for the Green & Gold on Saturday after transferring from Santa Fe College. Stuart made four appearances (three starts) for USF as a junior in 2020 and posted a 4-3 record in 10 starts in 2019.
The Bulls’ pitching staff ranked 11th in the country in strikeouts/9-innings last year (11.8). USF also ranked 32 nationally with a .979 fielding percentage.
Redshirt junior Riley Hogan paced USF with a .271 batting average in 2020. During the Bulls’ last complete season, catcher Jake Sullivan was second on the team with a .309 batting average and .851 OPS in 2019.
USF tallied a record of 6-11 before the 2020 season was cut short, including a 4-4 mark over the final eight games. Four of the Bulls’ losses last season were at the hands of nationally-ranked opponents. USF went 26-27 in 2019.
Scouting FGCU
The Eagles are the defending Atlantic Sun Champions (2019) and are led by Dave Tollett in his 19th season. The Bulls will face off against the ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Mason Studstill. The right-hander leads all Eagles in program history with a .167 opponent batting average and is second in career ERA (2.30). Richie Garcia, a preseason All-SUN selection, is fifth in program history in homers (20), ninth in RBI (129) and 10th in career doubles (42). Hunter McGarry will be a threat on the basepath with 37 career stolen bases.
Up Next
Following the series finale with FGCU in Fort Myers on Sunday, the Bulls return to Tampa to host Florida A&M for a four-game set February 26-28 at the USF Baseball Stadium.
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 –
