Bulls Drop Tuesday Clash with Stetson, 5-3

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Web Link: https://bit.ly/2Gh3c4p

Bulls Drop Tuesday Clash with Stetson, 5-3

Duke Stunkel Jr. had a game-high three hits

TAMPA, MARCH 27, 2018 – The University of South Florida baseball team dropped Tuesday’s midweek tilt to Stetson, 5-3. 

The Hatters (20-5) scored two in the first on three hits and left the bases stranded. The Bulls (18-8, 2-1 The American) answered, quickly cutting into the lead in the bottom half. Senior outfielder Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) doubled to the wall in the left center, moving Coco Montes (Miami) to third, who scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat.

Pitching for both sides settled down from there, as the next 5.0 innings were scoreless. In the seventh, Stetson put together a two-out rally, adding to the lead to make it 4-1.

After the Hatters made it 5-1 in the eighth, USF trimmed the deficit again in the bottom half. Like the first inning, the top of the order of Montes and Stunkel Jr. got the offense going with a walk and a single, respectively.

Junior David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit a sac fly to right in the next at-bat, bringing in Montes. After Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) singled, JD Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) brought in Stunkel Jr. with a single to left. 

Tyler Dietrich (Naples, Fla.) singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was all USF would get. More in the club

[BrassBulls12]

Just couldn’t get out of the seventh and you can’t give a team like Stetson extra outs. 

[CousinRicky]

Would have been the 3rd out in the 7th but the batter reached on a wild pitch 3rd strike and got the whole thing started. We were sitting next to Collin Sullivan, who had the radar gun behind the plate last night, and he said the pitcher threw the wrong pitch and crossed up the catcher. As happens too many times in baseball, the coach left the pitcher in for one too many batters. Thought he was going to pull him when he went out that first time but had to come out again after giving up that hit.  Stetson's starter was fabulous. I tend to complain about lack of timely hitting but that kid's changeup was outstanding.  Probably had 6 strikeouts with that pitch. 

[BrassBulls12]

20 minutes ago, Bourbon Bull said:

that kid's changeup was outstanding.  Probably had 6 strikeouts with that pitch. 

Its the most under valued pitch in baseball. 

[NewEnglandBull]

3 hours ago, Bourbon Bull said:

Would have been the 3rd out in the 7th but the batter reached on a wild pitch 3rd strike and got the whole thing started. We were sitting next to Collin Sullivan, who had the radar gun behind the plate last night, and he said the pitcher threw the wrong pitch and crossed up the catcher. As happens too many times in baseball, the coach left the pitcher in for one too many batters. Thought he was going to pull him when he went out that first time but had to come out again after giving up that hit.  Stetson's starter was fabulous. I tend to complain about lack of timely hitting but that kid's changeup was outstanding.  Probably had 6 strikeouts with that pitch. 

Thanks for the update. I caught some of the game on the radio. Baseball America has us as the first four out of the NCAA tourney. Naturally, a lot more to play for going forward.