USF takes series behind offense
Home field advantage seemed to be just what USF needed this weekend.
USF (7-13) took the finale of a three-game series 13-4 against Mercer (14-6) on Sunday at Red McEwen Field, earning its first series win of the year after splitting the first two games.
Construction plans for a new stadium were delayed, allowing the Bulls to play at home.
“The Red is good to me,” said coach Lelo Prado. “I don’t have to travel all over the place.”
The Bulls will play the rest of their remaining home games at Red McEwen, with the exception of a series against Connecticut, which will be at George Steinbrenner Field later this season.
“It was really exciting for me to find out that we were going to get some extra games (at Red McEwen Field),” said redshirt junior center fielder Ryan Lockwood, who went 4-for-13 in the series.
USF has won four of its last five games before starting the season 3-11.
“We’re still grinding our way out of the funk,” Lockwood said.
In the series opener against Mercer on Friday night, Randy Fontanez pitched a solid eight innings, giving up two runs while striking out eight in a 2-1 loss. The Bulls left nine runners on base.
“He pitched a great game,” Prado said Friday. “He can’t pitch much better than that.”
USF scored 18 runs on 24 hits in the next two games. The Bulls won 5-3 in the second game behind junior pitcher Andrew Barbosa.
“It’s a lot easier when we get runs earlier. Then I know I just got to do what I got to do,” Barbosa said Saturday after the Bulls scored four runs in the first four innings.
Barbosa pitched 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and one earned run in the start.
“We have to keep playing short-ball and being aggressive on the bases. As a whole, we see as individuals what we need to do,” said catcher Eric Sim, who went 7-for-12 in the series with two three-hit games.
“Our bats are starting to come alive,” Prado said. “We’re starting to play the way I thought we would play all year.”
Despite a 7-13 record, USF’s players remain confident about their chances of taking the Big East title this season.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in the locker room that doesn’t think we’re going to win the Big East,” Lockwood said Sunday. “We’re all excited about the possibilities.”
More Stories
USF admin’s response to suicides unclear. What we know so far.
USF’s administration will not say who or how it will prevent future suicides on campus a month after a student leapt from an upper floor balcony of the Interdisciplinary Science Building – the third suicide since fall 2022. The Oracle has asked repeatedly about which USF administrators are overseeing suicide prevention initiatives and how the […]
USF SG leaders look back on campaign accomplishments while on non-speaking terms
Student body president Cesar Esmeraldi and vice president Elizabeth Volmy reached nearly every campaign goal during their term. The one thing that didn’t persevere was their unity. The pair ended their tenure reflecting on it from separate rooms. “We’ve had a great year,” Esmeraldi said. “I’m very happy with everything we’ve built. But because of […]
USF’s ‘Take Back the Night’ allows sexual survivors to share pain, resilience: ‘Recovery isn’t easy.’
A sexual assault survivor, who was the first speaker at Wednesday evening’s “Take Back the Night,” said the hardest day of their life was not when they were assaulted – it was the day after. “When I had to call my mom and tell her how her [child lost their] virginity and tell my therapist […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
McKinley Drive closed down for death investigation, Tampa police say
The intersection between Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive was closed due to a death investigation late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department (TPD). A man shot himself after making a bomb threat in the parking lot of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), located at 11201 McKinley Drive, according to TPD. Police said […]
USF 2024-25 A&S budget to increase student organization funding in Tampa and St. Pete
The Student Government (SG) Senate approved the 2024-25 Student Activities & Services (A&S) budget for all three campuses this Tuesday, seeing an overall increase in allocated money to student organizations. The vote was 26-0, approving the budget. Related: 2023-24 A&S budget down $5 million from last fiscal year Students pay fees in their tuition – […]