Hunter Mink recorded USF’s first 9-inning complete game since 2019.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 29, 2024) – Hunter Mink (Palm Harbor) turned in a complete game gem in the opener of a conference doubleheader at Charlotte on Friday afternoon as the Bulls and 49ers went on to split the twinbill at Hayes Stadium. Mink lifted South Florida (16-11, 3-2 AAC) to an 11-2 victory to begin the day before Charlotte (12-15, 2-3 AAC) bounced back for a win by fending off a late USF rally, 7-3.
The three-game series was originally set to begin on Thursday night, but multiple travel delays prevented the Bulls from arriving in Charlotte until Thursday afternoon.
Jackson Mayo (St. Johns) went 5-for-10 with four doubles and four RBI on Thursday throughout the doubleheader.
Game 1 (USF 11, CLT 2)
Despite the final score, it was a close game throughout which saw Mink deliver his best outing of the season.
The South Florida offense sent Mink to the mound with an immediate 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ben Rozenblum (Coral Springs) launched a solo home run and Joaquin Monque (Weston) added an RBI-single with two outs.
Charlotte got one run back in the bottom of the first inning before Matt Rose (Clearwater) built the lead back to two with an RBI-double in the top of the second inning.
A solo homer by the Niners in the fourth frame cut the USF lead to 3-2, but it was all Mink and the Bulls from there.
From the fifth inning until the last out of the ballgame, Mink retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced.
Monque recorded another two-out, run-scoring hit in the top of the fifth and Stewart Puckett (DeLeon Springs) tallied his first collegiate homer in the sixth inning to pad the lead to 6-2.
The Bulls put the game out of reach with five more runs in the ninth inning. Mayo roped a two-run double in the frame, John Montes (Toa Alto, Puerto Rico) followed with a two-run single and Rose drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring.
Game 2 (USF 3, CLT 7)
The South Florida offense stayed hot into the second game of the doubleheader, and took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI-double by Mayo in the top of the first inning.
Charlotte immediately responded in the home half of the first frame with three runs against Jack Cebert (Tampa). Coming off one of his best starts of the season last weekend, Cebert allowed five runs (four earned) over the first three innings before turning the corner and finishing his outing strong. Cebert (3-2) didn’t allow a hit over his final free innings of work and gave the USF offense a chance to stay in the game.
Another RBI-double by Mayo cut the deficit to 5-2 in the fifth inning where the score remained before the Niners plated another unearned run in the seventh inning. Charlotte extended its lead to 7-2 in the eighth, but the Bulls didn’t go down without a fight in the ninth inning.
Matthew Buffington (Andover, Kan.) belted his first USF home run to lead off the ninth and the Bulls eventually loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs before their late rally came to an end.
USF chased Charlotte’s starting pitcher in the third inning of the ballgame and forced the Niners to bring in their top reliever who logged 5.2 IP in his appearance. With the Bulls inching closer in the ninth inning, Charlotte was then forced to call upon their closer to complete the game.
Notable
- H. Mink recorded the first complete game by a USF pitcher since Collin Sullivan on April 25, 2021 at Houston (7 innings). Sullivan also owned the last 9-inning complete game on May 17, 2019 vs. Wichita State.
- Monque played both games at shortstop on Friday – marking his first such starts in his collegiate career. Starting shortstop Eric Snow, who traveled with the team, was unable to play due to an illness. Buffington, who is battling a thumb injury, played both games at first base and Rozenblum was forced to catch both games for the short-handed Bulls.
- Rafael Betancourt (knee) and Bobby Boser (hand) remain sidelined for South Florida.
- Monque hit safely in both games to extend his hitting streak to eight. He tallied a season-best three hits in Game 1.
- Drew Brutcher (Lakeland) recorded two walks over the doubleheader to raise his season total to 35. The senior has 127 walks over 162 career games and moved into 10th place all-time in program history in that category on Friday.
- Mayo has four games this season with a pair of doubles.
- Rozenblum has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.
Up Next
The Bulls and 49ers will meet again in the rubber match of the series on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.
Double Play Passes, which include one ticket to every home baseball and softball game, can be purchased now for $99. Group and single game tickets are also on sale and can be purchased here or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 59th season in 2024 under head coach Billy Mohl (seventh season). The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 19 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Eric Snow in 2023. Four Bulls were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Former 2018 first-round selection, Shane McClanahan, became the program’s first-ever MLB All-Star in 2022 and was the starting pitcher for the American League.
– #GoBulls –
