USF gets swept by No.19 FSU

Despite several rain delays and opportunities to strategize, the Bulls were swept by the Seminoles (7-0) and fell to 1-5 on the season.

The Bulls trailed by eight early in the game and never found a way back into their Saturday  matchup against the Seminoles, which ended in the eighth inning due to rain.

USF’s senior starter Joey Lovecchio pitched two innings, gave up seven hits and was charged for the eight runs that FSU scored through three.

Lead-off walks in the first and second innings came back to haunt Lovecchio in his short appearance.

Lovecchio retired the two-and-three hitters after walking sophomore outfielder Josh Delph and then watched him score on an RBI double by junior catcher Stephen McGee.

Back-to-back RBI singles followed and then USF’s senior catcher Chris Norton pinned senior centerfielder Seth Miller trying to steal second to limit FSU’s scoring to three.

Lovecchio walked sophomore third baseman Jose Brizuela to begin the second inning, gave up a single to the next batter, and then watched Brizuela cross the plate after a two RBI double by Delph.

Lovecchio regained his composure and escaped the inning after giving up two.

USF’s three runs came from a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Chad Taylor in the fifth and a  two-run homer by sophomore outfielder Austin Lueck in the sixth.

The Bulls gave up five more runs to the Seminoles in the eighth, and both teams hit the dugouts after a heavy shower forced umpires to call the game.

USF was shutout in its first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, 8-0.

Wild pitching and shaky defense put the Bulls behind by four after the first inning of play.

Junior starting pitcher Nick Gonzalez put the 1-and-2 FSU hitters on via hit by pitch, and a walk and a fielding error by senior third baseman Kyle Copack followed, allowing Delph to score the first run of the ballgame.

A golden scoring opportunity opened up for the Bulls in the top half of the third after freshman second baseman John Sansone allowed Copack to reach first on a throwing error.

Senior outfielder Alex Mendez stepped up to the plate with a chance to drive in USF’s first run and grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. 

The Bulls threatened to score in the fifth, but Mendez failed to execute in his second chance to drive in a run and flew out to left field. This was the final scoring opportunity that USF received in the game.

FSU tacked on two runs in the sixth and seventh innings and freshman reliever Kenny Burkhead closed the door on USF in the ninth for the win. 

USF pulled within two, but a costly walk and a solo blast helped FSU win 2-5 in the final game of the series.