Bulls Seal Series Win With Big Swings

[Brad]

By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Jimmy Falla, Chris Norton and Austin Lueck each hit homers with two outs in a five-run seventh inning that helped the Bulls power past Valparaiso, 7-3, and seal the series win Sunday.

Falla led USF's 10-hit attack with a 2-for-4 performance while Norton's first-career homer was a two-run shot in the Bulls' big inning before a crowd of 1,038 at USF baseball stadium.

Starter Joey Lovecchio got a no decision after allowing one earned run on eight hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out five to cap off a series of quality innings from USF starters. Jimmy Herget gave up an earned run in seven innings of the Bulls' 3-2 win in Friday's opener. Nick Gonzalez also gave up just one earned run in six innings of USF's 5-2 loss on Saturday night.

USF (7-8) faced a 3-2 deficit heading into the bottom half of the seventh before putting together a two-out rally. Falla sparked the comeback with a two-run homer and Anthony Diaz kept things going with a single to left field. Norton followed with the biggest swing of his college career and Lueck produced a solo homer while pinch hitting.

Steven Leasure, Nolan Thomas and Chad Taylor kept Valparaiso off the scoreboard in the final two innings to help USF win its season home series of the season. Taylor earned his second save by striking out two in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless work.

Chris DeBoo (0-4) allowed six runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, but only two of the runs were earned on a day Valparaiso committed three errors.

USF will be in Miami for a two-game midweek series at FIU that starts 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Bulls return to USF baseball stadium for a three-game series against FAMU that starts Friday at 7 p.m.

[Skingraft]

Neat

[gainesvillebull]

Good job Bulls! Thanks for posting.

[CousinRicky]

Gotta love winning a series.  Nice to see the starting pitching get on track.  And 3 HR's in one inning?  That usually doesn't happen in a week or two. 

[SattyBull]

Gotta love winning a series.  Nice to see the starting pitching get on track.  And 3 HR's in one inning?  That usually doesn't happen in a week or two. 

Yeah, they only had 3 home runs total going into that inning.

[Paisa el Toro]

Glad that USF baseball won, but it seemed like the team struggled a bit against Valpo.

[South_Florida_Flip]

Also struggled with Toledo.

[charsibb]

They're late bloomers?

[CousinRicky]

They're late bloomers?

 

Let's hope that is the case. There are some young guys getting playing time.  Only holdover starters in the field this year are Mendez in LF, Ramsey in CF and Teaf at SS.  I believe our Friday night starter is a Fr.  Keep fingers crossed.