Bulls Defeat FGCU, 3-2

[JoeB]

Baseball team gets another midweek victory by beating the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, 3-2.  More to come later after the release of the box score.  The article on gousfbulls.com said Shawn Sanford got the win by pitching the 9th inning, but that isn't possible as the Bulls scored the lead run in the top half of the inning.  So I'll wait to post the winner and save.  Apparently Addison Maruszak was switched to 2B tonight, while Freshman Jonathon Koscso switched over to SS.  Interesting defensive change by Prado.   

[JoeB]

Judging from the Play by Play on the FGCU site, this was a nail-biter.  Apparently we got the lead on a bunt single by Ryan Lockwood to score Addy in the Top of the 9th.  Sanford came in to close the game out and walked the first 2 batters.  After a SAC Bunt, FGCU popped out to the Catcher and Grounded Out to end the game.  So we're able to survive this game.  FGCU is actually 18-6 on the season.  USF goes to 12-10.

Oh, and I was right about the Winner.  It wasn't Sanford, although he did pick up his 5th Save of the season.  David Torcise recorded his first ever victory as a Bull tonight by pitching the last out of the 8th inning.  From the looks of the box score, the pitchers did their job tonight, as Matt Stull pitched 4.2 solid innings, followed by Teddy Kaufmann, Zach Pietryzk, Torcise, and Sanford.  The Bullpen didn't give up any in their 4.1 innings of work.  Good job Pen!

Bulls are on the road tomorrow night as well, as they travel to Jacksonville to play the Ospreys of North Florida.  Kyle Eastham will get the start on the mound after his effective work in the first game of the Cincinnati series.  Go Bulls!!   

[Bulls 8_va]

Go Bulls indeed...

Finally beat those pesky little eagles.  Lets keep it that way...

GO BULLS!!!

[lerbut23]

The switch with 2B/SS is interesting indeed. . .  .I wonder if Adam's arm was bothering him.

JK at short absolutely baffles me.

[Paisa el Toro]

those pesky little eagles. 

I don't think there's anything little about FGCU. They've been quite the thorn at our side in a few sports. Out of all Florida public universities, I think they have the highest upswing potential in both academics and athletics. It's amazing what they've been able to do down there ever since they ceased being USF-Ft. Meyers. It's going to be an interesting school to watch in the upcoming decade.

[SRQ]

PeT, You're so right.  This will be the story in the next decade.  Perfect location, large enough metro area to do big things, small enough to not have pro competition.

[JoeB]

The switch with 2B/SS is interesting indeed. . .  .I wonder if Adam's arm was bothering him.

JK at short absolutely baffles me.

You mean Addison, aka Addy right?  Not Adam.  JK is the only other option on this team to play SS really.  I think the only other one is Ryan Garcia, and I believe he's being Redshirted. 

[lerbut23]

The switch with 2B/SS is interesting indeed. . .  .I wonder if Adam's arm was bothering him.

JK at short absolutely baffles me.

You mean Addison, aka Addy right?  Not Adam.  JK is the only other option on this team to play SS really.  I think the only other one is Ryan Garcia, and I believe he's being Redshirted.   

You are correct on all points. 

I guess we have to give these guys a free pass for a couple of years to correct the deficiencies from the previous regime.  They made a gutsy decision dismissing so many bodies after last season but we can live with short term suffering if it brings long term success.

[JoeB]

Not sure of his name, but we're bringing in a stud SS from St. Pete Catholic.  He and his Dad are at most of the games, down the 3B line, so in the future we should be OK at the position.

[Big_Hairy_Bull]

This must be the guy you are talking about.

Sam Mende, SS, Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.)

Mende, a shortstop from Clearwater, Fla., batted .465 with eight homeruns, 16 doubles, five triples and 16 stolen bases for Clearwater Central Catholic his junior year. He is the No. 220 ranked high school prospect in the country by Baseball America. Mende is ranked the No. 244 high school prospect and the No. 40 middle infielder in the country by Perfect Game. His many honors include selections to the 2006 Youth National Trial Team, 2007 First Team All-Pinellas County, 2007 First Team All-Sun Coast, 2007 first team all-state and he was a member of the CCC Marauders 2007 class 3A state championship team.

“Every day I watch this kid play I fall in love with him more and more,†Prado said. “He’s a hard nosed kid who knows how to play the game and plays it hard. We think he’s going to do some special things here. This is the type of kid that can get us to Omaha.â€Â