TAMPA, Fla. – South Florida baseball returns to Tampa this weekend, ending a nearly two-week road stretch to host Florida Atlantic for a critical three-game American Athletic Conference series.
The Bulls (28-16, 7-11 American) are looking to right the ship at home against an Owls squad (22-22, 8-10 American) currently sitting just ahead of them in the conference standings.
The weekend kicks off with some star power from the gridiron. South Florida head football coach Brian Hartline is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday night’s game on May 1st. Hartline, the former Ohio State coordinator and NFL veteran now leading the Bulls’ football program, is also expected to join the broadcast booth during the matchup.
The Bulls are looking for a fresh start after a difficult road trip. The team fell 9-1 to 14th-ranked Florida State on Wednesday and currently carries a four-game losing streak.
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South Florida has struggled in conference play lately, dropping three consecutive series. Their last series win came a month ago when they took two out of three from Memphis in early April.
Florida Atlantic enters the series with a bit more momentum. The Owls won two of three against Charlotte last weekend before traveling to Fort Myers on Tuesday, where they defeated FGCU 8-1. While FAU is coming off a midweek win, they are also looking to maintain consistency after being swept by UAB in their last road series earlier this month.
History favors the home team in this matchup. South Florida holds an 18-8 advantage in the all-time series, including a 9-4 record against the Owls in Tampa. While the Bulls took the series in Boca Raton last season, the Owls managed to win the series the last time these programs met at USF’s home field in 2024.
The series begins Friday night at 6:30 p.m., followed by afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday.
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