Game times

BASEBALL GAME TIME

Mercer (13-5) at
USF (5-12)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Red McEwen Field
TV/Radio: N/A

USF (5-12) will start a seven-game homestand Friday, facing Mercer at 7 p.m. for the first of a three-game weekend series.

The Bulls will look to extend their winning streak to three games for the first time this season, as junior Randy Fontanez gets the call.

Tuesday night’s win over UCF – where starting pitcher Teddy Kaufman threw a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts – was the team’s first road win.

Mercer (13-5) has played all but three games at home this year. Only one batter in their starting lineup is batting under .300.

In its last five games, Mercer has scored a total of 64 runs, with more than 10 in each of its last three games.

USF continues to play without sophomore shortstop Sam Mende, who suffered a broken jaw last weekend. Mende was batting .342 in 38 at-bats before the injury.

– Tony Allen

SOFTBALL GAME TIME

Northern Illinois (4-12) at USF (12-10)
When: Friday, 4 p.m.

Where: Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater
TV/Radio: Bullsvision/1610 AM

Coach Ken Eriksen is looking for his 600th career win with the Bulls as they enter the USF The Game Tournament, which begins Friday at 4 p.m. against Northern Illinois in Clearwater at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

The Bulls play a doubleheader against Oklahoma State (3 p.m.) and Florida A&M (5 p.m.) on Saturday, followed by a doubleheader against Towson (10 a.m.) and FSU (1 p.m.) on Sunday.

The Bulls lost both of a doubleheader Tuesday against Drake. Senior Kristen Gordon struck out four in the nightcap to move into fifth on USF’s all-time strikeout list with 364.