Bulls outmatched in 8-3 loss to Memphis
ORACLE FILE PHOTO/JACOB HOAG
The USF baseball team was overwhelmed in every facet of the game as they struggled to keep pace with Memphis in an 8-3 loss Friday night at the USF Baseball Stadium
USF ace Phoenix Sanders was far from his usual self Friday night, surrendering a season-high seven earned runs over six innings in the defeat.
“Phoenix left everything up today, probably his worst outing of the year,” USF coach Mark Kingston said. “He’s been really good for us all year. This was just a very un-Phoenix like outing, everything he threw was up in the zone and lefties especially killed him tonight.”
Sanders surrendered a two-run homer in the second inning, but didn’t encounter much trouble until the sixth, when the Tigers were able to add five runs to their 3-2 lead.
After beginning the inning with a homer, Memphis scored four more times on five singles, ending Sanders’ night.
“When you give up eight runs on a Friday night, you probably will not win,” Kingston said. “Our formula has to be pitching and defense and we scored just enough to win the game. Giving up eight runs on Friday night is going to be tough for us.”
Deficit aside, the Bulls’ offense gave Sanders little support, scoring two runs on three hits in the first six innings. USF (15-15, 1-3) added a run in the seventh, but couldn’t threaten the Tigers’ lead.
Following the game, Kingston reminded his team of its series win against No. 25 Michigan State when the Bulls fell 11-1 in the opener, but bounced back to win the next two games.
“I said, ‘Michigan State, a top-20 team, came in here and beat us good on Friday night and we had enough heart to come out on Saturday and Sunday and win the series,’” Kingston said. “So, that’s the only thing we can focus on at this point.”
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. […]