NOTEBOOK: Baseball snaps losing streak, avoids another conference sweep

Sophomore infielder/outfielder Carmine Lane had multi-hit performances in all three games against Tulane over the weekend, totaling seven hits in 15 at-bats to improve his batting average to .341. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO

USF baseball avoided another conference sweep on the road against Tulane over the weekend, losing two of three. The series ended on a high note as the Bulls (19-13, 1-5) notched their first win since March 29 with a 13-8 victory on Sunday.

Friday’s 8-5 loss was a back-and-forth contest, but the Bulls never led, leaving 13 runners on base while committing five errors on defense. On Saturday, USF was shutout for the third time in five conference games in a 6-0 loss that featured three more defensive miscues.

The Bulls finally cleaned up in the field and drove runners home in the series finale win, snapping a six-game losing streak in the process. It was the team’s first win over an AAC opponent this season, led by an offense that turned 14 hits into significant run support for the pitching staff.

The Bulls return home for a midweek clash with Florida Gulf Coast at the USF Baseball Stadium on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and iHeartRadio Bulls Unlimited.

Men’s tennis on a roll against top competition

No. 51 USF defeated No. 40 Tulsa 4-3 on the road Sunday for its fourth consecutive win to end a stretch of eight straight matches against ranked opponents.

The Golden Hurricane (11-9) grabbed the doubles point to start the match, but the Bulls (12-9) mounted a comeback with three wins in the first four singles matches, including a 14th singles win in a row for sophomore Alvin Tudorica.

Match point came down to the final singles duel where junior Antonio Muniz came from behind to take down his opponent in three sets. The Bulls improved to a perfect 3-0 on the current regular-season-ending road trip.

Men’s tennis will play its regular-season finale on Friday at UCF, scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. The AAC Tournament begins on April 21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Too little, too late for women’s tennis

Women’s tennis also wrapped up a string of matches against nationally-ranked teams, but its loss against No. 68 Florida Atlantic at home on Sunday marked its third straight defeat against strong opposition. 

The Bulls (5-14) started the day on the right foot, getting a doubles win through the duo of junior Amelie Boy and freshman Sierra Berry, but the Owls (12-10) pulled away soon after.

FAU took the doubles point with two straight wins, then swept the Bulls in the singles portion of the match. The lopsided 4-0 scoreline doesn’t represent the state of the match, though.

As the Owls wrapped up match point on court two, USF led the three singles duels still in progress. Had those singles losses taken just a bit more time, perhaps the Bulls could have rallied.

Women’s tennis will also close its regular season in a War on I-4, hosting the Knights at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts on Saturday at noon. The women’s AAC Tournament will start April 20, also in Tulsa.