The Bulls score early but fall short to No. 12 Florida State, 7-3
TAMPA (Feb. 18, 2020) – The USF baseball team fell to No. 12 Florida State on the road Tuesday, 7-3.
The Bulls (2-3) came out of the gates firing in the top of the first inning. Jordan Santos (Tampa, Fla.) drove in the first run for USF with a single to right field, scoring Dontae Mitchell (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
USF tacked on two more runs in the top of the third on an error by third baseman Carter Smith.
No. 14 Florida State (3-1) would tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Seminoles would then take the lead in the sixth on a Mathue Nelson three-run homer.
Nick Davila earned his first career start at USF Tuesday night. Davila struck out two batters through two innings of work.
Matt Marini (Miami, Fla.) suffered the loss on the hill for the Bulls allowing three runs on three hits through one inning.
Quotable
Coach Billy Mohl on tonight’s battle with No. 12 Florida State
“I see us getting better offensively. It’s not going to happen overnight, but I saw progress. Those arms we faced were pretty good. All of them have velocity, but we competed and gave good at bats all night.”
Notable
· Mitchell extended his hitting streak to four games.
· Nick Davila (Hialeah, Fla.) earned his first career start with the Bulls Tuesday night.
· Riley Hogan (Orlando, Fla.) has recorded over two hits in each of the last two games, going 3-for-3 against No. 12 Florida State.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls earned their third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first rounder, pitcher Shane McClanahan. Third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success in head coach Billy Mohl first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months of the season. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
– #GoBulls –
