USF Baseball Hangs On For 3-2 Win Over Fordham

Behind a three-run second inning and a bounce back start from RHP Peter Strzelecki, the USF baseball team held on for a 3-2 win over Fordham on Saturday night at USF Baseball Stadium to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Bulls righty starter, a week removed from allowing nine earned runs and 11 hits in a blowout loss to No. 6 North Carolina, threw five innings, allowing just one run and striking out nine on Saturday night.

Strzelecki wiggled out of an early first inning jam and escaped another in the third with Rams base runners on the corners.

The Bulls (2-4) scored all of their runs in the bottom of the second when David Villar, JD Dutka and Chris Chatfield all singled to load the bases for Tyler Dietrich.

Dietrich delivered in a big way with a bases-clearing double to make it 3-0 USF. The Bulls catcher finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI.

The Rams (3-2-1) scored a run in the top of the fourth on a couple singles but the damage was limited after a great catch by Villar over the railing in foul territory.

RHP Alec Wisely took over on the mound for USF in the sixth inning and pitched three impressive innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three.

The Bulls held a 3-1 lead entering the ninth inning before turning it over to closer Andrew Perez.

Perez allowed a long solo homer to Jake MacKenzie to trim the lead to one, but retired the next two Rams batters to secure his second save of the season.

The Bulls will look for their first series win of the year in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. RHP Collin Sullivan is expected to start for USF.