Bulls lose to michigan

[Yogi]

The baseball team loses 6-5 to Michigan after having a 5-2 lead in the 8th

[CousinRicky]

The baseball team loses 6-5 to Michigan after having a 5-2 lead in the 8th

Hate to see them lose late like that.  Sounds like they brought in Percival.  :'(

[Brad]

Courtesy USF

Bulls Falter Late, Drop Season Opener 6-5

Clearwater, Fla. - The University of South Florida baseball team opened the 2009 season with a 6-5 loss to the Michigan Wolverines at the BIG EAST - Big Ten Challenge Friday afternoon.

The Bulls took an early 3-0 lead in the first game of the season, but Michigan answered with a pair of runs over the next two innings to keep the game close. USF added two more in the eighth, then the Wolverines collected three in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at five. Michigan sat the Bulls down in order in the top of the ninth, then scored the game-winner with a two-run single followed by a hit up the middle.

"It has got to get to a point where we execute in the eighth and ninth inning," said head coach Lelo Prado. "We had a three-run lead in the eighth inning. I don't care if it is game one or game 56, we have to win those games."

Sophomore starting right-hander Randy Fontanez pitched a gem in his 2009 debut, throwing 7 innings, striking out three, while allowing six hits, two earned runs and walking one. Fontanez also recorded two pickoffs against the Wolverines.

"I thought Randy did a very good job today," said pitching coach Lazer Collazo. "He kept his pitch count low for seven innings. He could have gone an eighth inning, but it is too early in the year to do that. He worked quick. He worked hard. I couldn't be happier with his first outing."

The Bulls jumped to an early 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the second inning.

The offense was sparked by sophomore third baseman Jonathan Koscso. Koscso, who moved from second to third in the offseason, started his 2009 campaign with two hits and a pair of runs scored in his first two plate appearances.

Sophomore Ryan Lockwood provided an offensive spark when he drove in the third run of the game on an RBI single. The hit extended Lockwood’s hitting streak to 31 consecutive games. Senior Chris Rey also racked up an RBI single in the first, scoring Koscso from third and advancing Hunt to third.

The Wolverines answered early with a run in the second then added another in the fourth. The run in the second was tallied by sophomore designated hitter Jake McClouth. McClouth, brother of Pittsburgh Pirate Nate McClouth, recorded his first collegiate hit, a homerun over the right field fence, to put the game at 3-1. In the fourth, the Wolverines notched another run after a walk by Anthony Toth, then a single advanced Toth to third, and finally scored Toth on a double play to the right side.

After the run in the fourth, both teams would remain scoreless until junior college transfer second baseman Peter Brotons recorded a bases-loaded double down the left field line to give the Bulls two more runs, pushing the score to 5-2 in the middle of the eighth inning.

With USF leading 5-2 in the eighth inning, the Wolverines loaded the bases on reliever Teddy Kaufman as Michigan doubled, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. Junior Andrew Salgueiro came in for relief, striking out his first batter in his first appearance as a Bull. The Wolverines then singled to right, driving in a pair of runs to bring the game within one. A pickoff attempt by USF led to a stolen base and a tie score in the bottom of the eighth.

In the top of the ninth the Bulls were held hitless, and in the bottom of the ninth, the Wolverines led off the inning with a ground rule double. A fly out to the shortstop and a strikeout looking brought the bottom of the ninth to two outs and the winning run in scoring position. A groundball up the middle allowed the run to score from second and give the Wolverines the win.

Senior catcher Trey Manz was 2-for-3 in the game, recording a double and drawing a walk.

Brandon Smith made his return to the field after his season was cut short by an injury in 2008. Smith, a senior first baseman, went 1-for-3 on the day including a walk and a single.

Freshman shortstop Sam Mende made his collegiate debut and recorded his first single in the top of the eighth inning with two on and one out. 

The Bulls are back in action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. when USF faces Purdue at Bright House Network Field in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge. Watch the game on Bright House Sports Network in the Tampa Bay area, and listen to the game on 1010 Sports Radio as well as BullsVision on GoUSFBulls.com.

[Matt]

how do we lose to a team that has been playing indoors since october?

[Guest hm101]

baseball season is here? amazing.

[JoeB]

Michigan is a good team, as they made the Big Dance last season.  But having said that there is no way we should drop the game when our pitcher goes 7 strong and we're leading by 3 with only 6 outs to get.  Kaufman can't hit a batter and walk a batter in the 8th.  Guess what, those two runners were the difference with this win and a loss. 

Tough loss, but we need to put it behind us.  Big game tomorrow with Purdue coming to town.  Hopefully we finish the game strong.

[JoeB]

That article made no mention of Stephen Hunt...............I was listening on the radio today and he was injured on a bad coaching decision to send him home in the 8th I think.  Jim Louk made it seem like he was out by a mile at the plate, and apparently he limped off the field.  Judging from the box score, he must have been dinged up pretty good since A)  he didn't come in to pitch the 8th inning and he was pinch hit for in the 9th and he's our second best hitter.

So the question is, what is the status of our cleanup hitter and setup man Stephen Hunt?

I can take a loss to Michigan, but if we lose this guy for any significant amount of time, it could be disastrous.

[Cow Pie]

For me this loss stings... I would rather lose to a Southern team than a yankee one... I have hockey practice this morning and reckon that I will get **** from them yanks at the rink... 

[South_Florida_Flip]

Michigan is a good team, as they made the Big Dance last season.  But having said that there is no way we should drop the game when our pitcher goes 7 strong and we're leading by 3 with only 6 outs to get.  Kaufman can't hit a batter and walk a batter in the 8th.  Guess what, those two runners were the difference with this win and a loss.

Exactly. There is no reason to lose to a team who probably has not been able to practice much outdoors. We have an inherent advantage over teams from the North this time of year and we should use it to our advantage.