Weekend Roundup: “It Was Awesome”

Ed: Welcome Connor Akeman to our staff. He’s survived the hazing ritual and everything. And don’t blame him for this being a day late, blame us.

Baseball Sweeps C. Florida

Maybe, just maybe, there was some slight concern from Bulls fans after a disappointing opening series of AAC play last weekend in New Orleans against Tulane, where USF dropped two of three games. Take nothing away from the Bulls 22-3 non-conference start to the season right before that series with the Green Wave, but with the exception of FSU and FGCU, competition throughout that stretch wasn't exactly elite. But the Bulls proved this weekend they are no fluke, picking up their first sweep in conference play since 2015. And it couldn't have come against a better opponent; Those pesky C. Florida Knights. The Knights came into the weekend ranked 2nd nationally with a 2.23 ERA. That, of course, changed drastically after the Bulls tallied 36 hits throughout the three-game sweep.

“It’s huge for us. We felt like we let a couple slip away at Tulane and needed to do this. To get the sweep and do it against UCF was awesome,” said Bulls pitcher Joe Cavallaro.

It is awesome. The walk-off win on Friday night in eleven innings was awesome. The late inning comeback, and botched C.Florida double play for yet another walk-off on Saturday night was really awesome. And the finale on the Sunday afternoon? Even more awesome and some much needed points for the good guys in the “War On I-4’.

Softball Sweeps ECU

For the most part, 2017 has been full of ups and downs for the USF Softball team. A win over top-ranked Michigan, the dismissal of star player Juli Weber, countless doubleheaders, comeback wins and blowout losses. Finally, it all came together for the ladies in green and gold this past weekend with a three-game sweep over East Carolina. The Bulls capped off the final two games of the series with their biggest comeback of the season in a 7-6 win on Saturday, and another 9-7 comeback victory on Sunday.

USF (27-19, 4-4 American) plays four games on the road this week, including a key three game series in Orlando against C. Florida, before returning home for the final conference series of the season next weekend against Memphis.

Tennis Splits Difficult Doubleheader

The talented men’s tennis team traveled to Texas this weekend for two tough matches. Sunday afternoon saw the Bulls take on American Conference foe SMU, who the Bulls motored past on the heels of Sophomore Alberto Barroso-Campos performance. Campos clinched a 4-2 conference win for USF with a third set, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, finish at the No. 2 spot on Sunday.

Monday afternoon was a different story for USF as the Bulls dropped the first set on all courts, but couldn’t rally as ninth-ranked TCU took straight-set wins on courts two, five and six. In doubles, Justin Roberts and Peter Bertran for the Bulls battled hard but fell to the No. 23 tandem in the country for the Horned Frogs.

The regular season is winding down for the Bulls who have just one home match remaining against Memphis next week. And if you can, go out and support the fellas. Great venue, great team. Following that match, USF will travel to the American Athletic Conference Championship.

Women’s Golf Captures Hoya Invitational Title

Late, but not forgotten. Nice job by the USF Women’s Golf Team who put three players among Top 12 to win the Hoya Invitational on Tuesday afternoon in Beallsville, MD.