GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Open Conference Play at Tulane

[Brad]

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Bulls Open Conference Play at Tulane

 

Matchup: USF (23-3) at Tulane (10-15)
Dates: Friday-Saturday, March 31-April 1, 2017 
Times: 7:30 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. (DH)
Location: New Orleans, La. | Turchin Stadium (5,000)
 

TAMPA, MARCH. 30, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team leaves the sunshine state for the first time this season to begin American Athletic Conference action, as it takes on Tulane for the start of a three game series on Friday night.  

All three games can be heard on AM 820 and watched live on TulaneGreenWave.com/watch.

The Bulls built on their best start prior to conference play beginning with a 9-4 win over Stetson on Tuesday night. Six USF bats had multi-hit efforts to lead a come-from-behind win, as the Hatters jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning.   

Scouting Report – Tulane

The defending regular-season AAC champions have seen their record marred by a seven and a five game losing streak. But the Green Wave is playing its best baseball of the season, winning seven of the last 10 games, most recently an impressive 7-6 victory at No. 6 LSU on Tuesday night. 

The Green Wave has been led at the plate by senior infielder Hunter Williams, hitting .373 with 15 runs scored, a conference-best 10 doubles and 17 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Grant Witherspoon is the only other Tulane player hitting over .300, as he is batting .303 with a team-leading 24 runs scored. Both Williams and Witherspoon have hit three homeruns as part of an AAC-leading 26 bombs.

Tulane has been stout defensively and done an excellent job with men on base. The Green Wave have turned 26 double plays to rank 16th in the country.

The double plays have been essential, as the pitching staff allows 9.22 hits per nine innings, eighth in the conference. Tulane has a team ERA of 5.56 to also rank eighth in the league.

This weekend’s hosts will throw senior righty Corey Merrill on Friday night with his 4.54 ERA and 2-2 mark in six starts. He leads the team with 32 strikeouts over 35.2 innings. Redshirt-junior righty J.P. France will go Saturday with his 5.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts in six starts. Freshman Chase Solesky will go Sunday, as he leads the team with a 1.82 ERA in six starts. More of a finesse pitcher, Solesky has struck out just 16 men in 29.2 innings.

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.
• Tulane owns a 30-20 edge in the all-time series between the schools, most recently sweeping a three-game set in Tampa last season.
• The Bulls will throw senior righty Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) Friday, redshirt-freshman lefty Shane McClanahan (Cape Coral, Fla.) in game one Saturday and redshirt-junior righty Peter Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.) game two. 
   

Key Stats

• Junior Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) leads the AAC and sits sixth nationally with a .444 average.
• McClanahan is third in the country allowing just 4.19 hits per nine innings.
• The Bulls’ pitching still ranks in the top-five in the nation in WHIP, team ERA, hits allowed per nine innings and leads the country with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. 

[Mama_Bull]

USF Baseball‏ @USFBaseball  2h2 hours ago

 

We will be playing a double-header on Saturday at Tulane. Sunday's game has been moved due to rain, first game set for 3pm.

[Ionbull]

2 hours ago, Mama_Bull said:

USF Baseball‏ @USFBaseball  2h2 hours ago

 

We will be playing a double-header on Saturday at Tulane. Sunday's game has been moved due to rain, first game set for 3pm.

Woof. Conference double headers are tough. Any specification whether the first one will be abbreviated?

[Mama_Bull]

22 minutes ago, Ionbull said:

Woof. Conference double headers are tough. Any specification whether the first one will be abbreviated?

USF BB did not specify whether the game would be shortened.

I think it works to our advantage, since the Tulane scheduled pitcher Chase Solesky will be going on short rest. 

 

Edited March 31, 2017 by Mama_Bull

[Ionbull]

19 minutes ago, Mama_Bull said:

USF BB did not specify whether the game would be shortened.

I think it works to our advantage, since the Tulane scheduled pitcher Chase Solesky will be going on short rest. 

 

Fair enough, I didn't realize they were putting a midweek starter on Sunday. I gather we are putting out Sanders, McClanahan and Valdes?

[Mama_Bull]

6 minutes ago, Ionbull said:

Fair enough, I didn't realize they were putting a midweek starter on Sunday. I gather we are putting out Sanders, McClanahan and Valdes?

From the revised article above which mentions the double header.

The Bulls will throw senior righty Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) Friday, redshirt-freshman lefty Shane McClanahan (Cape Coral, Fla.) in game one Saturday and redshirt-junior righty Peter Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.) game two. 
 

[Ionbull]

3 minutes ago, Mama_Bull said:

From the revised article above which mentions the double header.

The Bulls will throw senior righty Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.) Friday, redshirt-freshman lefty Shane McClanahan (Cape Coral, Fla.) in game one Saturday and redshirt-junior righty Peter Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.) game two. 
 

Thanks mama! Foresee a lot of drafted arms on this team!

[bullsmeanbusiness]

 

[Mama_Bull]

USF up 3-0 and still batting in 4th  inning.

[JoeB]

Blown lead, 5 run 7th for Tulane.  Never easy to win in conference on the road.