GoUSFBulls.com Zech Hits First Career Homer in Loss to No. 23 Houston

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

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Zech Hits First Career Homer in Loss to No. 23 Houston
The Bulls hit two home runs and will look to even up the series on Saturday

TAMPA, APRIL 28, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team dropped the opening game of the series to No. 23 Houston, 7-3, on Friday night.

After trailing 3-0, the Bulls (32-10, 7-6 the American) plated a pair of runs in the fifth to cut the deficit down to one. Sophomore Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) hit a solo home run to give USF its first run. Later in the frame, junior Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) tripled and was brought home on a Coco Montes (Miami) double.

Leading 3-2, the Cougars (29-13, 9-4 the American) responded with a pair of home runs in the sixth, tallying four runs in the frame to take a 7-2 edge.

USF got one back in the bottom of the seventh before falling in the series opener.

Key Stats

• Zech’s home run in the fifth was the first of his career. He went 2-for-4 to lead the Bulls.
• Stunkel Jr. finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Sophomore Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) hit his fifth homer of the season with a solo shot in the seventh.
• The USF bullpen pitched 3.0 scoreless innings and combined for four strikeouts.
• Freshman reliever Carson Ragsdale (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) pitched the last inning, giving up just one hit and striking out two. 

Notables

• This is the first time all season that the Bulls have lost three-straight games.

 

Up Next

USF and Houston play the middle game Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

[CousinRicky]

Although it is only 1 game, while at the game last night I flashed back to last year. IIRMC, it was about this time last year when Phoenix started to struggle and eventually was moved to Saturday night starter from Friday.  Hope history doesn't repeat itself.  But he only had 5 strikeouts last night and a couple were called strikes on what looked to be balls sitting behind the plate.  Fingers crossed.

[JoeB]

Phoenix struggles alot after 5 innings.  Not blaming him, but it happens to alot of pitchers