While USF Athletics may not have lit up the scoreboard like previous weeks, this one won’t be remembered for the right reasons.

Women’s basketball stumbled in back-to-back losses, and baseball got steamrolled in its weekend series against I-4 rival UCF.

But even in a rough patch, there were still a few bright spots that cut through the murk.

Friday’s single win over the Knights saw southpaw pitcher Corey Braun mow down batters with ease, while the Bulls’ men’s track and field team secured its second conference title in two years.

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Braun does it all

Corey Braun had all the right moves Friday night, spinning his way to 9 strikeouts in 6.1 innings during USF’s only series victory over UCF.

If there was a blueprint for pitching dominance, Braun wrote it in the 13-3 game.

The southpaw was on fire from the first pitch, retiring the first 10 batters he faced, including an immaculate first three innings where he went through the UCF lineup like a hot knife through butter.

The Bulls’ ace made it look easy, showcasing control and composure that many pitchers take years to develop. 

His numbers tell the story: four hits, the Knights only three runs and no mercy as he locked down the game with his arm. 

That 6.1 innings? Career high. The nine strikeouts? You guessed it, career high. 

Braun wasn’t just in control – he was playing a game only he could win.

Related: OPINION: USF’s Archie, Garcia-Soto make Oracle’s players of the week

‘Bull’ speed ahead

USF track and field took over the conference this weekend 

The Bulls proved that again this weekend, securing their second straight American Athletic Conference Indoor Championship with a dominant 167.5-point performance.

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu led the charge, sprinting his way to men’s Most Valuable Performer honors with gold medals in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. 

His win in the 200 meter capped a Bulls podium sweep, with Shevioe Reid and Jaleel Croal right behind him. 

Meanwhile, freshman pole vaulter Nikodem Pochopien made his presence felt, earning Freshman of the Year after a pair of runner-up finishes.

The Bulls didn’t just shine in individual events – the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relay squads took home titles, with both teams setting new meet records. 

The men’s team set the record with a time of 3:07.63 while the women’s team time was 3:35.24.

Throw in a high jump title for Kendell Mosley and a silver-medal finish from Karim Belmahdi, and it’s clear – USF didn’t just win, they left no doubt.