Bulls Tame Tigers in Offensive Battle

The Bulls came out Friday firing on all cylinders against the Memphis Tigers, scoring nine of their ten runs in the first four innings of play.  A four run 4th inning would prove to be the difference.  It was a Julio Cortez bases loaded home run that drove tallied four, putting the Bulls up 9-5 after three and a half.  Cortez, DH, finished 3/4 on the night with six RBIs.  

The Bulls scoring started in the first with a flurry of singles and a Memphis error, getting the Bulls two runs in the top of the 1st.  But starter Baron Stuart, who got better as the game went on, gave up three runs in the bottom of the 1st.

The Bulls picked up their next three runs in the 3rd inning staking a 5-2 lead.  Jordan Santos started the inning with a single before Joe Genord stepped up and popped a two-run home run to left field.  Chris Chatfield would follow with a walk and Cortez would pick up one of his RBIs knocking in Chatfield with a double down the left field line.

As has so often happened for the Bulls, they surrendered another Memphis run in the bottom of the 3rd, closing the gap to 5-4 before the Bulls four run fourth.  

Memphis would chip away at the lead, picking up two in the 6th and one in the 7th  before Bulls closer Nelson Alvarez entered the game to extinguish any Tiger comeback.  Alvarez managed the final out of the 7th and then completed both the 8th and 9th for the win.  

A USF insurance run crossed the plate in the 9th when Chatfield doubled and later scored on a Memphis error.
 

Box

Stuart's pitching line closed at 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 H and 4 BB.  Most importantly, for a team short on arms, Stuart hung tough and tossed 120 pitches.  Middle relievers Brandon Schrepf and Logan Lyle struggle in relief of Stuart.  Alvarez faced 10 batters, striking out three and walking three, giving up just one hit.  

Tomorrow's game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. but there is much talk of potential bad weather.  Be sure to follow @USFBaseball on Twitter for updates.