Bulls V Western Michigan: series info and discussion

[BrassBulls12]

Not a good weekend for the pitching staff. 

[BrassBulls12]

Walk off HPB to complete the sweep. 

[OcalaBull2]

Back to back walk off wins. Impressive. Pitching was atrocious this weekend but our bats are good. Hoping head coach can play a bigger role in developing the young pitchers since it used to be his forte. 

[Guest Jonesy Bull]

Nice getting back on track after last weekends tough losses.  Hopefully will build confidence in this team going forward.

[BrassBulls12]

It was good to see the offensive production but I don't think we saw very good pitching this weekend. Most of their arms were mid to low 80's guys. It was good to see the sweep but our bad pitching performances are the story here. Starters need to work longer and we definitely have a question mark on the back end. Could be time to see Lyle in that role. Or Koff if he isn't going to be a starter. 

[NewEnglandBull]

Needing two walkoffs to beat a mid level (at best) WMU team is not a good sign. That being said plenty of time to build on the sweep going forward.

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Web Link: http://bit.ly/2IOpMaf 

Bulls Complete Sweep of Broncos In Back-and-Forth Battle Sunday 
USF plated two runs in the ninth to walk-off Western Michigan for a second-straight night. 

TAMPA, MARCH 3, 2019 – The USF baseball team used a season high 13 hits and another late inning comeback to complete the series sweep of Western Michigan with Sunday’s 10-9 win.

 

Down, 5-4, in the bottom of the eighth, the Bulls (6-4) loaded the bases with nobody out. After a game-tying homer Saturday night, freshman Brandon Schrepf (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) again came through, lacing a two-RBI single into center to make it 6-5. Jake Sullivan (Tampa) laid down a sacrifice bunt to make it 7-5 in the next at-bat. Then freshman Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) singled to third base, scoring another run to give USF a 8-5 edge entering the ninth. 

 

The Broncos (1-8) did not back down and matched USF’s production with four runs of their own on four hits to retake the lead, 9-8. Seniors Kyle Phillips (Orlando) and Joe Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) led off the bottom half with walks, then were advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.

 

After a Schrepf walk, Sullivan drove his third hit of the afternoon through the left side to tie the game at 9-9. Two batters later, junior Austin Bodrato (Northvale, N.J.) wore an inside pitch off the side of the helmet, for a walk-off hit-by-pitch.

 

Continuing the trend of the weekend, the Broncos belted a first-inning homer in the form of a three-run shot to left. The Bulls put two runners on to start the bottom half with consecutive walks, but three-straight outs ended the threat. USF was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third on a Jordan Santos (Tampa) solo home run.

 

Phillips tripled in the next at-bat, then a sac fly from Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) made it 3-2. After an intentional walk to Genord and a single from Schrepf, Sullivan knotted the score with an RBI single to center. 

 

Western Michigan threatened again in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs. A single drove in two runs to give the Broncos a 5-3 lead.

 

USF got one back in the bottom half when Santos and freshman Dylan Buck (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) each singled with one out. Two batters later, Genord singled to right, scoring Santos from third to make it 5-4, leading to the craziness in the final three frames.

 

 

Key Stats

11 – Senior Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) hit his 11^thcareer triple, moving him into fourth place on USF’s all-time list. 
.500 – Genord (5-for-10) and Phillips (6-for-12) each hit .500 with six runs and five RBI over the weekend. 
4 – Four Bulls had multiple hits, and there were a minimum of four Bulls with at least two hits in all three of the games this weekend. 
13 – Season high hits for the Bulls. USF tallied double-digit hits in all three games against WMU and has done so four times this year. 
 

Nota-Bulls

·   Phillips went 2-for-4 with a triple and a career high three runs scored.

·   Genord finished with three walks and a hit-by-pitch, becoming the first Bull to walk four times in a game since April 7, 2017. He also scored two runs.

·   Schrepf went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.

·   Sullivan had a career best with three hits and two RBI.

·   Santos finished 2-for-3 with two runs and his first USF homer.

·   The Bulls are 6-1 at home this season.

·   As a team, USF hit .337 in the series and had seven home runs.

Up Next

The Bulls head to Port Charlotte on Tuesday for a unique opportunity, taking on the Tampa Bay Rays in an exhibition. First pitch in what will be a split squad Grapefruit League contest for the Rays is at 6:05 p.m.

USF returns home for a series against Liberty on March 8.

[Dave_Glaser]

3 hours ago, BrassBulls12 said:

Not a good weekend for the pitching staff. 

And last weekend vs. UNC was the exact opposite. At this point, I have no idea what this team is.

[JTrue]

14 minutes ago, Dave_Glaser said:

And last weekend vs. UNC was the exact opposite. At this point, I have no idea what this team is.

We’re better than WMU, but not as good as UNC.

[BrassBulls12]

yep, we are somewhere between potentially going to to Omaha and the bottom of the barrel.