USF Weekend Roundup: Sweeping Edition

Baseball (12-14, 1-5 AAC)

The Bulls lost their sixth straight game after being swept by #14 ECU over the weekend. The Pirates took a series from USF for the first time since 2005 (Nathan was in eighth grade, Steeg was in the fifth grade, Collin was 13 years removed from college). USF was blanked Friday night, losing 4-0 on a night where the Bulls’ bats were cold. On Saturday, they couldn’t capitalize on 15 hits, losing 13-7 and giving up a grand slam in the top of the sixth. Sunday was just as tough, giving up another grand slam in the second inning before falling 5-1.

Friday

Junior RHP Collin Sullivan got the start Friday night and gave up seven hits, four runs, walked five and struck out five before being pulled in the seventh for RS junior LHP Connor Eason. Eason fared much better, giving up one hit, walking two, and striking out one in two innings of work. Senior RHP Richie Cruz pitched the ninth, getting a strikeout and making quick work of the Pirates.

ECU’s Jake Agnos was virtually unhittable, pitching six innings and striking out 11 Bulls while only giving up three hits. LF Garrett Zech, DH Brandon Schrepf, and 3B Jake Sullivan were the only ones able to get a hit off of Agnos.

Saturday

Saturday was much better for USF offense. The Bulls were able to collect 15 hits, however they were unable to capitalize, leaving 11 batters on base and falling 13-7. Senior RHP Alec Wisely was credited with the loss after giving up nine runs on nine hits in six innings. LHP Logan Lyle closed out the game after coming in for relief in the seventh inning, giving up four runs on five hits and struck out two.

USF briefly held the lead on Saturday in the bottom of the fifth, when freshman Brandon Schrepf got a two-out, two RBI double to go ahead 4-3. However, the Pirates quickly got the lead back, scoring six runs in the six inning including a grand slam. They would retain that lead to win the game 13-7.

Sunday

Sunday’s outing resulted in another loss for the Bulls, falling 5-1 where RHP Dylan Burns got the start. The Pirates hit another grand slam, this time in the second inning to quickly take a 4-0. A solo homer in the fifth inning extended the lead to 5-0. Senior Tyler Dietrich had the lone bright spot for the Bulls, doubling to right field to score Genord in the sixth inning, which was one of his career-high three hits on the day.

Joe Genord has reached base in 15 straight games, and has a hit in five straight. He’ll look to continue that streak and help USF out of their slump when the Bulls face FGCU in Tampa on Tuesday night.

Softball (26-14, 4-2 AAC)

Softball traveled to Houston and completed the sweep against the Cougars, where USF’s pitching was absolutely dominant all weekend. On Friday, a back-and-forth game resulted in USF winning 4-2, Saturday was led by a one-hitter thrown by Nicole Doyle to win 3-0, and on Sunday a shutout performance completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory.

Friday

Sophomore Georgina Corrick pitched a complete game on Friday, struck out eightwith nary a walk. However, she did get tagged for two home runs to give Houston a brief 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. USF rallied in the fifth with Junior AnaMarie Bruni getting a two-RBI single to retake the lead 3-2 on what should’ve been a three-run home run, but Bruni overran a Bulls baserunner and was called out. Lindsey Devitt added a solo homer in the sixth to give the Bulls a 4-2 lead they wouldn’t surrender.

Saturday

Saturday brought senior Nicole Doyle to the circle where a pitching duel broke out between the Cougars and the Bulls. Both teams were hitless through the top of the fourth before AnaMarie Bruni hit an infield single. Doyle retired the first ten batters she faced before giving up a double in the fifth inning, the Cougars only hit of the day. Junior Riley Gore hit a two-run home run in the fifth, followed up by an insurance run in the sixth on a Bethaney Keen RBI.

Sunday

Corrick returned to pitch on Sunday, where she struck out 13 batters en route to a 3-0 win to complete the sweep in Houston. Corrick now has five double-digit strikeout games this season, and has won 14 of her last 15 games. Junior Kelsey Lay provided the offensive spark for USF, going 2-for-3 with two runs.

The Bulls didn’t allow a run for the last 17 innings of the series.

USF will return back to Tampa this weekend as they face ECU in a three game series.

Other Sports:

• Track and Field competed in the Texas Relays and the Florida Relays, Senior David Bell placed second in pole vault on Thursday with a height of 17-04.50. On Friday he placed fourth with a height of 17-01.50.
• Women’s Sailing competed in the Dellenbaugh Regatta, finishing 10th out of 18 schools. Other notable schools competing were the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, University of Miami, and M.I.T.
• Women’s golf is currently T-4th after the first round at the Panther Intercollegiate with a score of 14-over. Natalia Villavicencio and Ramya Meenakshisundaram are both T-7th at 2-over. Teams will continue play Monday and Tuesday.