USF Baseball Win AAC Tournament Title Over Central Florida 8-7

The South Florida Bulls baseball team defeated the Central Florida Golden Knights 8-7 in the AAC Tournament championship game on Sunday at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.

USF jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first when right fielder Daniel Cantu hit a two-out, two-run home run—his second of the tournament, and seventh of the year. Cantu finished 3-for-4 with a home run, and three RBI.

The Bulls tacked on four more runs in the second inning thanks to timely hitting, and poor defense by the Knights. With one gone in the second, the Bulls scored two runs after C. Florida second baseman forgot how many outs there were, and jogged off after recording the second out of the inning.

The team traded solo home runs in the third and fourth inning before the Knights scored two in the fifth and four in the sixth to cut the Bulls’ lead to 8-7.

USF closer Orion Kerkering closed things down in the 8th and 9th inning to clinch the title.