GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Host Hatters In Last Game Before AAC Play

[Brad]

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Bulls Host Hatters In Last Game Before AAC Play

 

Matchup: USF (22-3) vs. Stetson (10-16)
Dates: Tuesday, March 28, 2017 
Times: 6:30 p.m. 
Location: Tampa, Fla. | USF Baseball Stadium (3,211)
 

TAMPA, MARCH. 27, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team hosts its final non-conference game before American Athletic Conference play begins, when it welcomes in Stetson for a 6:30 start Tuesday.  

The game can be heard on AM 1040 and watched live on BullsVision.

The Bulls won their sixth weekend series of the season, as they defeated FAMU in Sunday’s rubber game by a score of 7-1. USF outscored the Rattlers, 20-5, and were defeated in 11 innings on Saturday night.

The two teams have faced one another 166 times in the all-time series, as the Hatters hold an 84-82 edge. The Bulls lead the series in Tampa, 45-40, and have won four of the last six meetings.  

Freshman D.J. Roberts (Jacksonville, Fla.) will get the ball for Tuesday’s start, his fourth of the season. He has a 2.95 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 21.1 innings of work.

Scouting Report – Stetson

The Hatters head into Tuesday’s matchup winners of two-straight games and three of their last five, as the only two losses were by a combined two runs.

Stetson is paced offensively by sophomore infielder Jack Gonzalez with his .314 average. Freshman outfielder Austin Bogart is hitting .301 with 17 runs scored and leads the team with eight doubles, four homeruns, a triple and 19 RBI. The tandem are the only two Hatters hitting .300 or better, as sophomore outfielder Jacob Koos is hitting .294 with a team-leading 20 runs scored.

The Stetson arms combined for 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings to lead the ASUN and sit 12th nationally. Senior lefty Tyler Keller has been the best arm out of the bullpen with a 3.29 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 12 appearances. He is one of three relievers that has seen action in 12 games, as junior Dean Garabedian sports a 3.38 ERA. 

 

Key Stats

• Sophomore third baseman David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit .400 over the weekend to lead the team with two doubles and three RBI. He has now reached base safely in nine-straight games.
• Senior Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) hit .375 in the FAMU series with a team-best four runs scored and four RBI.
• The Bulls pitching staff lowered its ERA to 2.05, second-best in the nation. The arms are allowing 6.20 hits per nine innings which is good for third nationally and are striking out 11.3 batters per nine inning to lead the country. 

 

Notables

• The Bulls were ranked No. 21 this week according to Perfect Game and came in at No. 15 in terms of D1Baseball’s RPI system.
• USF is still receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll. 

[JoeB]

Go Bulls,beat those Hatters!

[Mama_Bull]

Merrell back playing.

USF Baseball‏ @USFBaseball  45m45 minutes ago

Our lineup vs. Stetson. Look who returns to the order and the leadoff spot. First pitch against the Hatters at 6:30! #BullsUnite

[Mama_Bull]

Tied at 3 in the fourth inning..

Edited March 28, 2017 by Mama_Bull

[TExpress]

Bulls win 9-4!

[Mama_Bull]

Nice come from behind win after trailing 3-0.

USF is now 23-3!!!

USF @Tulane this weekend.

[Ionbull]

The guys on the play by play were saying Merrell had a really high fever over the weekend. Pretty incredible he was able to put together a solid outing today if he had the flu!

[JoeB]

Merrell didn't look the same, but he did have 3 big hits.  Good win after trailing early.  DJ Roberts got tagged early, but the bullpen picked him up.  Solid outings by Farley and Cavallero.  The bats also came alive late in the game to expand the lead.  Really close game, the score doesn't reflect it. 

Go Bulls!

[jchem1995]

So we start conference play against Tulane who are currently in last and just beat #6 LSU. Do we sweep?

[Apis Bull]

What's the most number of wins baseball has ever had in a regular season?  I'm thinking, barring injuries, we can get to 40-43 wins.