USF Baseball Shutout By Fordham 2-0 In Weekend Opener

Despite throwing reigning American Athletic Conference pitcher of the week, ace LHP Shane McClanahan, the USF Bulls couldn’t overcome quiet bats in a 2-0 shutout loss to Fordham on Friday night at USF Baseball Stadium.

McClanhan pitched six innings, scattering two hits and striking out nine Rams batters. Both runs the lefty allowed were unearned.

“It was a one-hit shutout, and balls didn’t fly our way,” head coach Billy Mohl said. “Shane pitched well and did his job. He threw strikes and we didn’t give them anything for free.”

A Matt Tarabek double, a passed ball by catcher Tyler Dietrich and a sac fly in the top of the second inning gave Fordham the 1-0 lead.

The Bulls (1-4) got their first, and only, hit of the night in the fourth inning when junior outfielder Kyle Phillips shot a single to right. He was caught stealing two batters later to end any threat.

“The offense isn’t a concern, we’ve faced some of the top pitching in the country and swung the bats well,” Mohl added. “We came out tonight and laid an egg, and that was concerning. Not putting up any runs and getting one-hit in our ballpark.”

The Rams (3-1-1) added another in the fifth inning when Bulls’ shortstop Coco Montes threw a grounder away, allowing the runner from second to score and make it 2-0.

The Bulls put a runner on in the ninth, via a walk, but a long Phillips fly ball to right ended any chance of a comeback.

USF returns to action tomorrow in Game 2 of the series at 6:30 p.m. RHP Peter Strzelecki is expected to start for the Bulls.