TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida baseball team couldn’t dig their way out of an early hole on Friday, dropping a 7-4 decision to Memphis at home. The loss evens the weekend series and sets up a high-stakes rubber match tomorrow in Tampa.
Memphis wasted no time setting the tone, ambushing the Bulls for six runs across the first two frames. The opening salvo began when Freddy Rodriguez led off with a single and a stolen base, eventually scoring on a Trae Cassidy base hit. The big blow came moments later when Michael Gupton cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left field, handing the Tigers a quick 4-0 cushion.
The bleeding continued for the Bulls in the second. After Jack Little reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced on an error, Cassidy struck again, driving in two more with a single to left-center. By the time the second inning ended, South Florida found themselves staring at a 6-0 deficit.
USF starter Landen Yorek struggled to find his rhythm, lasting just 1.1 innings. Despite recording three strikeouts, he surrendered six runs on four hits. The performance handed Yorek his first loss of the season, moving his record to 1-1.
READ: Winning Pedigree: Can Chris Mack Keep USF’s Championship Momentum Alive?
The Bulls’ offense finally sparked in the sixth. Jevin Relaford ignited the crowd with a leadoff double and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Jake Kulikowski. The momentum carried into the seventh, where Lance Trippel launched a solo home run to left. Following a single by Joey Brenczewski and a double by Jack Lutz, Relaford came through again with a two-run double down the right-field line. The rally pulled South Florida within two, trailing 6-4.
However, Memphis quelled the comeback in the eighth. Javon Hernandez proved a menace on the basepaths, hitting a one-out single before stealing both second and third base. He eventually slid home on a wild pitch to provide the final 7-4 margin.
Now sitting at 23-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play, the Bulls will look to clinch the series in the final game on Saturday. The Tigers, who moved to 10-19 with the victory, will aim to take the series on the road.
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