GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Play at Stetson in Season’s First Rematch

[Brad]

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Bulls Play at Stetson in Season’s First Rematch

 

Matchup: USF (27-5, 4-2 American) at Stetson (23-7, 2-1 AAC)
Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 
Time: 6:30 p.m. 
Location: DeLand, Fla. | Melching Field at Conrad Park (2,500)

 

TAMPA, APRIL 10, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team will travel to Stetson for a Tuesday night contest at 6:30 p.m.

The game can be heard on AM 1040 and watched on ESPN3 and WATCH ESPN.

USF is coming off a weekend sweep of rival UCF in the first War on I-4 series of the year. The Bulls tallied 36 hits in the three games, 29 coming in the final two games. The first two contests of the series ended via the walkoff with Friday’s 5-4 win coming in 11 innings.  

Series History

The Hatters still hold a slim 84-83 margin over the Bulls. The two sides met in Tampa on March 28 and played a closely contested game into the seventh before the hosts plated the final five runs, including four in the eighth. Stetson leads the series in DeLand, 43-36. 

Scouting Report – Stetson

The Hatters have opened up ASUN play with a 5-1 mark, most recently taking two of three from Florida Gulf Coast at home. Stetson opened last week with a near win at Florida on April 4. Leading, 10-1, in the fifth inning, Mother Nature took control of the action and forced a rain delay. The game did not resume and no reschedule date has been set.

But the series against then No. 9 FGCU was won with a sensational pitching performance from Logan Gilbert, who had a perfect game through 7 2/3 before ultimately striking out 18 in a two-hit complete-game shutout. The pitching staff as a unit leads the ASUN allowing 8.24 hits per nine innings and sits fourth nationally with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

The offense is still led by sophomore infielder Jack Gonzalez, hitting .337 with two homers and 17 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Jacob Koos is hitting .303 to sit second and leads the team with 30 runs. Classmate Mike Spooner is batting .280 with a team0best 26 RBI. 

Freshman righty Ryan Stark will throw for the Hatters Tuesday night. He has a 4.75 ERA and will be making his third start in his 14th appearance. He has 30 strikeouts in 36.0 innings.

Notables

• The Bulls are still receiving the most votes of the non-ranked teams according to USA Today (53). The Bulls are now at No. 24 in terms of RPI and are ranked No. 21 according to Perfect Game.
• Junior Joe Cavallaro (Naples, Fla.) and senior Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) were each named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll for their efforts over the weekend.
• The Bulls will throw freshman righty D.J. Roberts (Jacksonville) for the first time since the March 28 game against Stetson.

 

Key Stats 

• Borders hit .429 over the weekend sweep of UCF with a team-best five runs scored, a double, triple and homerun and two RBI.
• Cavallaro was electric out of the pen, logging 5.1 scoreless innings over two appearances. He struck out 10, did not allow a walk and surrendered just four hits.
• Senior Mark Savarese (Palm City, Fla.) was also sensational out of the bullpen, earning two wins. He pitched two innings and struck out four.
• Sophomore Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) hit .500, but walked four times over the weekend.
• Junior Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) continues to lead the Bulls in hitting with a .417 average. 
• The Bulls’ pitching still ranks in the top-five in the nation in WHIP (4), team ERA (2), hits allowed per nine innings (3) and leads the country in strikeouts per nine innings with 10.8.

[CousinRicky]

Never been to an away game for baseball and gave some thought to going.  Didn't know where Stetson was and Maps says it is 2+ hours away. So no go.

[JoeB]

Need a nice start from DJ.  Last time we played Stetson, he only lasted 4 innings.  Hopefully he has his control as he makes his first ever road start.   

[JoeB]

Just now, Bourbon Bull said:

Never been to an away game for baseball and gave some thought to going.  Didn't know where Stetson was and Maps says it is 2+ hours away. So no go.

In Deland.  Been there a few times.  Actually played some Babe Ruth baseball All Stars on the same field as Stetson plays on as a youth.

[Triple B]

31 minutes ago, JoeB said:

In Deland.  Been there a few times.  Actually played some Babe Ruth baseball All Stars on the same field as Stetson plays on as a youth.

Was over there for a vb tourney last semester and it's a nice little town and older campus. 

[Mama_Bull]

USF scores one run in first inning.

Audio: http://www.gousfbulls.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&id=1824078&catid=0&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=7700

Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=163576

[Mama_Bull]

Stetson up 3-1 after one inning.

[JoeB]

Same score after 3  DJ Roberts struggled in the 1st, seemed to have settled down for now though.  Zech hit into a DP to end a promising 2nd inning.  Need to get back in this game.  

[JoeB]

There is actually video of this game for those who have Spectrum TV and for those interested.  Go to gousfbulls.com and follow the watch link.

[JoeB]

4-1, DJ is out.  Yager in, but 2 guys still on base in the 4th.