Farley showing reliability out of USF bullpen
Sophomore Michael Farely (22) will likely be called out of the bullpen this weekend as he owns a 0.90 ERA after allowing only two earned runs in 20 innings pitched. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
The USF baseball team clung to a one-run lead Tuesday night in Fort Myers. It was one out away from a victory over Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), a team that had handed USF a loss at home exactly one month prior.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Michael Farley had just walked a batter to load the bases when the count ran full. The sophomore sent the payoff pitch to catcher Levi Borders, who caught it for the third and final strike.
Farley picked up his second win, an 8-7 nail-biter, to build some momentum for the Bulls as they enter conference play this weekend.
USF (17-8-1) hosts Cincinnati (6-16) for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Farley, who tossed 1 2/3 of one-hit baseball, will likely be called from the bullpen this weekend, as he has shown a degree of reliability.
The Florida native holds a 0.90 ERA after allowing two earned runs over 20 innings. In the AAC, he ranks second in appearances with 12, behind USF’s Tommy Peterson, who has 13.
Farley has taken strides since last season. Last year at this time, he had allowed 11 earned runs through 27 2/3 innings, giving him a 3.58 ERA. He also held a 1-3 record with 24 strikeouts and eight walks.
He currently has just as many strikeouts.
Collectively, USF boasts an ERA of 3.75, while Cincinnati has one of 6.46.
Offensively, three Bearcats average over .300. Center fielder Ian Happ, who has started all 22 games, is batting .418, and catcher Woody Wallace, who has started 12, is batting .320.
The Bearcats are 5-2 at home and have yet to win an away game. USF is the third stop on their nine-game road trip, and Cincinnati has dropped all five games leading up to it. The Bearcats have been outscored 47-23 in that span.
The Bulls finished 2-2 on their last road trip with wins against No. 18 Illinois and FGCU. They’ll carry a two-game winning streak into conference play Friday.
More Stories
Column: USF men’s basketball, thanks for the fun season
This is a personal column about assistant sports editor Noah Vinsky’s first-hand experience covering men’s basketball. Sports have always run in my blood. Growing up, ESPN was nearly on a constant loop on my living room television. I came to USF knowing I wanted to be a writer. The Oracle seemed like a great place […]
USF’s Mindy McCord builds culture of “family and love” into lacrosse
At 23 years old, a career in coaching was not what Mindy McCord had envisioned. After a stint playing for one of the top field hockey teams in Australia following a successful college playing career, she returned to America. McCord was on track to earn a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech while coaching […]
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 […]
Here’s why these USF softball players chose their jersey numbers
For athletes, the number they wear is more than the added fabric on the back of their jersey. It often tells a deeper story about the players — who they are and where they come from. Here’s why these three USF softball players chose their respective jersey numbers. Related: USF softball is gaining momentum during […]
USF football head coach Alex Golesh: The man behind the process
Football coach Alex Golesh said USF has been on his mind since his own days as a college student when the program was top five in the country. “I distinctly remember sitting there watching it and thinking ‘What is S Florida and what are they doing in the top five in the country?’” Golesh said. […]
USF baseball matches last season’s wins at midseason
USF baseball has reached its midseason, powering through a turnaround year. Despite losing to Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday 7-5, It has already won 21 games, matching the same total from last season with a road victory against Tulane on Sunday. The Bulls (21-16, 7-5 AAC) stand third out of 10 teams in the conference. […]