GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Open American Tourney Tuesday vs. Tulane

[Brad]

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Bulls Open American Tourney Tuesday vs. Tulane

 

Matchup: USF (40-15, 14-10 The American) vs. Tulane (27-29, 13-11 The American)
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Clearwater, Fla., | Spectrum Field
Follow: Stats | Listen | Watch
 

TAMPA, MAY 22, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team opens the American Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday against fifth-seeded Tulane at 3:30 p.m.

Each USF game of the double-elimination tourney can be heard on AM 1040 and Tuesday’s action will be aired live on CBS Sports Network. Tickets to the tournament can be purchased at the Spectrum Field box office or by calling 727-467-4457. 

The fourth-seeded Bulls finished the regular season tied for third in the league with UConn, who owned the tiebreaker.

USF saw five players earn all-conference recognitions on Monday. Senior Luke Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) and junior Kevin Merrell (Odessa, Fla.) were named to The American first team, while senior Phoenix Sanders (Gainesville, Fla.), junior Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Peter Strzelecki (Lake Worth, Fla.) were named to the second team.

The Bulls lost the final War on I-4 series over the weekend in Orlando to the top-seeded Knights, but took the opening game in 11 innings for the year’s 40th win. It marks the first time since 1996 that the Bulls have won at least 40 games in the regular season. 

Series History

The Bulls and Green Wave battled in the opening series of conference play from March 31 – April 2. Tulane took two of three, but each game was decided by two runs or less.

Key Stats / Notables

·   The Bulls have won at least one game in the conference tournament in each of the last five seasons, having made it to the Big East Championship game in 2011.

·   The Bulls’ pitching staff continues to lead the country in strikeouts per nine innings (10.4). The staff ranks ninth in hits allowed per nine innings and 10th in team ERA.

·   USF set the single season program record for most strikeouts in a season on Thursday with 547. The team currently sits at 572 on the year.

·   The USF offense leads the conference with a .387 on base percentage and sits second with a .291 average.

·   Merrell finished the regular season with a league-best .387 average.

·   Borders finished with 44 runs and 50 RBI to rank inside the top-10 in the league. He hit .400 against Tulane to start conference play. 

·   Stunkel Jr. finished with 14 RBI and Strzlelecki enters the tourney with a team-low 2.48 ERA.

·   Sophomore Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) hit .400 with a double and two homers in the opening series vs. the Green Wave. He drove in five runs.

·   USF is seeking its first conference tournament title since 1995.

·   The Bulls will throw Sanders against the Green Wave on Tuesday. Sanders has logged 7.0 innings in consecutive starts and finished the regular season with 99 strikeouts. 

Scouting Report – Tulane

The Green Wave enter the tourney as the fifth seed following a 27-29 season and 13-11 mark in conference. The team is paced offensively by American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, senior first baseman Hunter Williams. Williams hit .357 with 10 homers and 40 RBI.

Junior outfielder Grant Brown hit .322 and was named to the second team. Lex Kaplan hit .301 with 16 doubles and 41 runs scored.

Corey Merrill will start Tuesday’s game. Merrill finished the year 6-5 with a 4.88 ERA and 65 strikeouts.

[JoeB]

Got to win Game 1...heard DJ Roberts is done for the season, so we'll be out one of our arms.  Also still no word on Shane.  So it is a must to win this one if we have any hopes to win this tourney.

 

Go Bulls!

[CousinRicky]

Thought initially this game was set for 3 pm.  This says 3:30???  Will have to check with someone at the school to make sure.

[jg233]

11 hours ago, JoeB said:

Got to win Game 1...heard DJ Roberts is done for the season, so we'll be out one of our arms.  Also still no word on Shane.  So it is a must to win this one if we have any hopes to win this tourney.

 

Go Bulls!

Winning the tourney would be nice but being ready and as healthy as we can for regionals is the most important thing.  Winning this tourney without one or two of your starters is impossible with the amount of games you have to play.  I would say we have a 2 seed wrapped at this point.

[JoeB]

4 hours ago, Bourbon Bull said:

Thought initially this game was set for 3 pm.  This says 3:30???  Will have to check with someone at the school to make sure.

3:30 is correct.  They moved our game back due to the first two games being moved to earlier today.  Our game could be later if it rains or if UConn runs late, but our game definitely won't start before 3:30

[jg233]

The noon game is starting at 12:45pm...I would say we start closer to 4:30pm.

[jg233]

Make that 1pm.

[CousinRicky]

Just got here. Bottom 5th at 2:40. If any one wants to come, we'll probably start around 5. 

[charsibb]

Is this going to be the game thread then?

 

[Mama_Bull]

Houston and UCONN won their games.

USF game now scheduled for 4:30.

Game tracker: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?tournament=631