This Week In Baseball: Crazy Eights For Bulls In Weekend Sweep Of Cincinnati

USF baseball's conference opener against Cincinnati only made it four scoreless innings on Friday night before rain brought the night to an early end. But when the game resumed, the Bulls' bats woke up and led USF to an 8-3 win. Between Jimmy Herget and Janick Serrallonga, USF held Cincinnati hitless until the eighth inning, by which time USF had already taken a big lead. Herget had three walks and five strikeouts on Friday and did not allow a hit. Serrallonga took the mound on Saturday, adding three more hitless innings before giving up four hits and three runs in the 8th. On offense, Alex Mendez had a huge game, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. James Ramsay and Jimmy Falla each drove in a pair, and Chris Norton added a two-run homer.

In the second game of the makeshift doubleheader, USF won again, this time by the final of 8-4. (There is a theme here.) Nick Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings, scattering eight hits and two earned runs. Norton drove in three more runs, while Blake Sydeski got a start and paid off with two RBI. Kyle Teaf also added a 2-run double.

With more bad weather coming in on Sunday, the Bulls and Bearcats hit the field early, and USF completed the sweep, 8-5. Joey Lovecchio struggled a little bit, giving up four runs and five hits in five innings, but the offense gave him enough support and fought back every time the Bearcats made a rally. Nik Alfonso and Ramsay each had three hits, and Ramsay and Anthony Diaz scored two runs apiece.

The Bulls will get a chance to improve on their 2-4 midweek record when Florida Gulf Coast (perhaps you heard about them) comes to town on Tuesday night. After that, USF leaves the state for the first time this season for a three-game series against Georgetown. Because of the Easter holiday, the series will be played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.