GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Drop Close One to No. 15 FGCU

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

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Bulls Drop Close One to No. 15 FGCU

USF’s 19-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 loss

 

FORT MYERS, MARCH. 22, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team outhit the No. 15 team in the nation on the road, but runs came at a premium and a solo homerun in the sixth ended up being the difference in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Florida Gulf Coast.

The Eagles (19-3) took a 1-0 lead in the second on a single that floated over the head of sophomore David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), scoring a man from third. But a beautiful diving catch from junior Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) left the bases juiced. 

Starter Peter Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.) settled down after that, allowing just two combined hits in the third, fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the sixth, the Bulls (20-2) put runners on the corners with no outs. But a line drive to first base turned into a double play to silence what could have been a big inning. Sophomore Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) brought home junior Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) from third to tie the game, though it was all USF would get. 

After two in the bottom half, Spencer Levine homered to left field on a 3-2 count with no one on base. The Bulls put a pair of runners on in both the seventh and eighth, but could not knot the score and saw their 19-game winning streak snapped. 

Key Stats

• Merrell went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
• Both Genord and Stunkel Jr. recorded a pair of hits.
• Strzelecki logged 6.0 innings and gave up six hits while striking out four in his first game since March 12.

Notables

• The Bulls’ 19-game winning streak was the second longest in program history and the second-longest active streak in the nation.
• Even with the loss, the 20-2 start is still the best in program history. 
• Senior Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) saw his 21-game streak of reaching base safely come to an end.
• The Bulls recorded double-digit hits for the 15th time this season. 

 

Up Next

USF returns home for the final non-conference home series of the season when it welcomes in Florida A&M University for three games beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

[JoeB]

Go Bulls, Beat Rattlers!

[Breedwell]

Better it was a close one. You want those victories, but I'd argue it's proof that we belong in the conversation. 

[BrassBulls12]

Not a bad loss, but you hate to only score one run on double digit hits. 

[beastiebull]

So is FGCU is basically part of the "BIG IV" Florida schools now or what geez...

[charsibb]

1 hour ago, beastiebull said:

So is FGCU is basically part of the "BIG IV" Florida schools now or what geez...

Not until they start a football program. Then look out!

[George_Bullnard_Shaw]

3 hours ago, beastiebull said:

So is FGCU is basically part of the "BIG IV" Florida schools now or what geez...

I know some of their student informatinon system guys, their enrollment is getting to be comparable with the other big schools and they are planning for increased enrollment. They could well be the next breakout school academically and athletically.

[CousinRicky]

11 minutes ago, George_Bullnard_Shaw said:

I know some of their student informatinon system guys, their enrollment is getting to be comparable with the other big schools and they are planning for increased enrollment. They could well be the next breakout school academically and athletically.

They are better than us at the sports in which we compete.

[Bullinchinashop]

This game we needed to win.  The win streak looked nice but we have not turned the corner yet on beating ranked teams consistently.  

[lotsofbull99]

FGCU has passed us by, we should have built the OCS when we had a chance