GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Hang On to 4-2 Win at UNF Wednesday

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

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Bulls Hang On to 4-2 Win at UNF Wednesday

USF becomes the 11^th team in the nation to reach 30 win

JACKSONVILLE, APRIL 19, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball scored runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 4-2 lead and the bullpen tossed a scoreless final 4.2 innings to earn a win over North Florida Wednesday night. 

The Bulls (29-7, 5-4 American) scored twice in the first, as senior Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) brought in the game’s first run on a triple to center. He was brought home to make it 2-0 early.

But the Ospreys (24-15, 7-2 ASUN) tied things in the third. USF responded with runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 4-2 edge. After two-straight walks to begin the bottom of the fifth, senior righty Ryan Valdes (Tampa) recorded three-straight outs including two-straight strikeouts. 

The hosts led off both the seventh and eighth with doubles, but the USF bullpen punched out three-consecutive batters in each inning. UNF put two men on in the eighth, but sophomore Andrew Perez (Orlando) was able to close the door for his fifth save of the season. 

Key Stats

• Junior Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
• Borders went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. He hit his third triple of the season.
• Sophomore Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) also went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI.
• Valdes tossed 1.2, walking one a striking out four.
• Senior Mark Savarese (Palm City, Fla.) tossed the seventh, striking out two. 
• Junior Joe Cavallaro (Venice, Fla.) hurled the eighth and struck out a pair, while Perez did not allow a hit, walked two and struck out one.
• The pen combined for 4.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.

Notables

• The Bulls improve to 4-3 on the road and 7-1 in midweek games. 
• USF is now 11-6 in games decided by two runs or less this season.
• Of the eight hits tonight, seven came from the 1-4 hitters.

 

Up Next

The Bulls travel to Memphis for three games with their conference foes beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. 

[JoeB]

No mention of DJ Roberts at all.  Pretty much mentions everybody except him.  Not his strongest outing but still solid.

[Brad]

Early exit?

[JoeB]

4.1 innings pitched, which is where he's been lately, but only gave up 5 baserunners and the 2 runs were unearned due to the Villar error.  He really deserved the win tonight, but he didn't go 5.