Under a beautiful lightly cloudy blue sky the USF Bulls were competing in a three-game series versus the Florida Atlantic Owls. This was the rubber match as the Owls won the first game and the Bulls won the second. There were many fans, and both sides were well-represented. The FAU Owls were in all-grey uniforms with blue caps. The USF Bulls were in gold tops and white pants with camo hats. This game had a theme, “Cut for A Cure.” It was a game that represented individuals who have survived cancer and the ones who we have lost to a horrific disease. After the games, the USF players and coaches were having their heads shaved for this cause. The Owls were also playing USF in softball, right next door which was the largest attendance for USF softball for the year just over 1600.
The interesting part is all the USF Bulls baseball games I have attended this year had the wind blowing toward the outfield. For this game, the wind was blowing in towards the stands behind home plate. This made the baseball do weird things while in the air. The Owls went down one two three in the top of the first inning. Ben Rozenblum, the lead-off hitter, got a double to get things off to a good start. He would come around on an erred throw by Owl’s catcher. In the same inning, the Bulls hit a drive toward the left field wall only for the FAU outfielder to make an outstanding catch. As FAU came in, they would tie the game at one all a very long fly ball. The play was reviewed because they felt the runner left early.
Just like that, the USF Bulls would get the lead right back. This came off the bat of Drew Brutcher who sent a moon shot to deep center field that found its way over the wall. The home run was a two-run shot giving the Bulls a 3-1 lead. USF played great defense and they ended many innings with the double play ball. Many of those double plays were started by shortstop Eric Snow. Despite that, the Bulls could not get anything going on offense. They walked many times but were held to three runs mid-way through the game. After the fifth inning, the game was a one-run game. The Owls got a double to what seemed to be a puzzle if the ball was hit to left field. They got a double and the next hitter singled to pull them within one run.
Both pitchers lasted three innings, and FAU lasted four before being replaced. The USF Bulls had it go wrong in the top of the sixth when FAU got a three-run homer to take a 5-3 lead. The Bulls went 1 for 18 with runners in scoring position while the Owls went 3 for 11. Thankfully, Eric Snow was able to start a double play to get out of the inning after the home run. Unfortunately, the Bulls allowed the Owls to get an insurance run in the top of the ninth. They allowed FAU to load the bases but were unable to score any more runs. The Bulls got a runner on in the ninth with Bobby Boser up to bat but got a bad call from the home plate umpire. The game would end in a 6-3 loss for USF.
