Bulls Radio Sports
The Bulls Radio Sports Department provides coverage of all home USF Athletic events on WMNF 88.5 HD2 Tampa and 1620 AM around the Tampa campus. Our mission is to provide the best possible broadcasts and content for our listeners and fans, whether on-air or via our website, while also providing learning opportunities for students interested in sports broadcasting or journalism careers. During the 2011-12 USF sports calender, be sure to check out our coverage of USF football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball.
Want to become the next ON-AIR sportscaster with Bulls Radio?
Contact Sports Director Nick Flammia (nflammia@usf.edu) to find out how.
On-Air (813) 974-9285 |
Office (813) 974-4906 |
Bulls Run Down Eagles, Win 6-4
Written by Kellie Karbach
FORT MYERS – Equally sprightly and patient bats proved key to the USF baseball squad as they soared to a Tuesday night victory over the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles. The Bulls defeated FGCU 6-4 in the final non-conference matchup of the 2013 season and improved their record to 33-19.
The Bulls hitters eyed the strike zone with patient accuracy in the first inning as four walks off Eagles’ left-handed starter Brandon Bixler, who lasted only 2/3 of an inning and dealt 24 pitches, lead to an early run as a Levi Borders walk forced in Alex Mendez. A single by Anthony Diaz drove in James Ramsay, amplifying the Bulls lead by another run. The team ended the inning with a 2-0 advantage.
Hustle on the basepaths by Kyle Teaf, who stole second after hitting a single, garnered a third run for the Bulls in the second inning on an RBI single by Ramsay off of right-hander Danny Patrick.
The Eagles offense was restrained by Bulls sophomore starter Mike Clarkson up until faltering control lead to a big Eagles sixth inning. Clarkson, who had kept the opposing offense to a mere two hits through five innings, found himself in a spot after three consecutive singles by Alex Diaz, Mike Reeves, and Michael Suchy flagged one run and disallowed any outs.
An error committed by Clarkson while attempting a sliding launch to first baseman Jimmy Falla wrought two more runs for FGCU, but a combined effort by Janick Sarrallonga and Adrian Puig (4-0) steered the Bulls out of potential crisis and maintained a tied ballgame.
Motivated Bulls bats broke out once again in the seventh as they sent six batters to the plate against reliever RJ Brown. Brown’s final inning out of the three he worked consisted of two more runs to the Bulls, including a sacrifice fly by Ramsay. Ramsay successfully hailed a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a walk under his belt and an increase in his overall batting average to a stellar .334, the highest on the Bulls team.
A spurt in the ninth inspired one final score after pinch-hitter Kyle Copack grounded into a force at second and allowed the runner at third to hit home plate, settling the Bulls’ scoreboard count to six and securing the loss for Brown.
Abnormal unsteadiness by Lawrence Pardo, who entered the evening with a 1.74 earned run average over 29 appearances, raised pulses in the Bulls dugout during the Eagles’ half of the ninth. A notable 14-pitch at-bat by Brooks Beisner marked the second of a trio of walks allowed by an off-balance Pardo. The left-hander yielded three baserunners to sophomore Jordan Strittmatter.
Strittmatter allowed merely one to score via a sacrifice fly to Zack Tillery, and thereafter denied bases to the remaining two batters. Strittmatter ended the game with a fly out to Ramsay in center, securing the victory for a Bulls team who had in March struggled against FGCU, and ticking for himself a second save for the year.
The Bulls’ hit count rounded to 11, three of which were supplied by Chris Norton in the designated hitter role. Nik Alfonso also put up a notable performance, going 2-for-4 on the night. Puig was granted the win after his one-out appearance in the sixth.
The team seeks the comforts of home-field advantage in their next set versus Rutgers University. USF currently sits just atop Rutgers in the Big East standings, boasting a 15-6 Big East record to Rutgers’ opposing 13-8, and hopes to boost their overall home record above the current 23-4. This final regular season series commences on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Sports News
-
Herget Leads Bulls into Winners' Bracket
CLEARWATER –Jimmy Herget battled his way through 7.2 innings on Wednesday night to pace the USF Bulls to a 5-2 win over Rutgers in round one of the Big East Tournament. The Big East Freshman of the Year held the Scarlet Knights (26-29) to just one run, sending the Bulls (36-20) to the winners' bracket where they will meet Connecticut on Thursday at Bright House Field.
Herget (6-2) found himself down early after allowing a run in the second inning. With runners at the corners and one out, Brian O’Grady lifted a sacrifice fly to left to put Rutgers ahead 1-0.
The Bulls went down in order in each of the first two innings against Rob Smorol (5-7). The Scarlet Knights starter struck out three of the first four batters he faced.
Jimmy Falla got things going in the fourth. Down two strikes, the Bulls senior fouled off six pitches en route to a 12-pitch walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and Chris Norton delivered a double to right-center to plate Falla and draw the teams even at 1-1.
USF would go ahead for good by scoring three times with two outs in the fifth. Levi Borders doubled and Nik Alfonso singled to place men at the corners with one down. Smorol got Kyle Teaf to pop out to short, but Alex Mendez came through with a single to right, scoring Borders to give USF the 2-1 lead.
That signaled the end of the day for Smorol, who would be charged with four runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. He walked two and picked up six strikeouts.
James Ramsay greeted reliever Rob Corsi with an RBI single, and on the next pitch Falla singled through the left side to bring home another and make it 4-1 USF.
Herget settled in to work 7.2 innings, surrendering the lone run on five hits. The freshman righty walked four and recorded four strikeouts.
Rutgers threatened in each of the last two innings. After Herget walked the last batter he faced in the eighth, Lawrence Pardo issued back-to-back walks to bring the tying run to the plate before O’Grady popped out to end the inning.
Chad Taylor issued two free passes to open the ninth, and a Matt Tietz single loaded the bases with nobody out. Nick Favatella hit a grounder that had Teaf sliding to his right to glove at short before getting the lead runner out at second, but a run scored on the play to cut the Bulls lead to 5-2.
Taylor then set down the final two batters on pop outs to finish off a Bulls victory. Rutgers will now play Louisville in an elimination game at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Alfonso turned in a perfect 3-for-3 night for USF, scoring twice. Ramsay went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and has reached base in 35 straight games.
USF will meet UConn in round two, after the No. 8 seed Huskies upset No. 1 seed Louisville with a 3-2, 12 inning victory on Wednesday. The Bulls swept Connecticut on the road during the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m.
-
Bulls Lose Regular-Season Finale 10-6, Finish 4th in Big East
TAMPA – Numerous comeback attempts fell short on Saturday, as USF dropped a 10-6 final to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Senior Day at the USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls took two of three in the series, and will be the No. 4 seed in the Big East Conference Tournament.
USF (35-20, 17-7) fell behind early in the regular-season finale, and could not thwart off the Rutgers offense as the Scarlet Knights (26-28, 14-10) continued to tack on throughout the game. Rutgers got to Bulls senior starter Joey Lovecchio (5-5) for three runs on five hits in just two innings.
The Bulls got one back in the second. After back-to-back strikeouts opened the inning, Anthony Diaz battled his way to a nine-pitch walk off Rutgers starter Rob Corsi. That kept the inning alive for Levi Borders, who dropped a single into right-center, and Nik Alfonso followed with a base hit through the left side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Rutgers lead shrank again in the third, when Jimmy Falla singled with one out and later scored on Blake Sydeski’s RBI single to right.
Corsi lasted four innings for the Scarlet Knights, permitting two runs on six hits. The senior lefty did not factor in the decision.
With Lovecchio done after two, the Bulls called upon midweek starter Mike Clarkson. The right-hander worked around some trouble to throw two scoreless frames before Jeff Melillo opened the fifth with a blast over the wall in left-center, his second homer in as many days. That extended the Rutgers lead to 4-2.
The Scarlet Knights added another with a run off Adrian Puig, but the Bulls kept it close with a run of their own off Jon Young (3-1) in the home half. Falla and Sydeski singles placed men at the corners with one out, and a wild pitch allowed Falla to come in and score the third USF run of the day.
An error opened the door for Rutgers to break it open in the seventh. With two down and a runner at first, a ground ball to Kyle Teaf resulted in the sophomore shortstop firing high over the head of Falla at first, and the ball bounced out of play to allow the runners to take second and third. After a walk loaded the bases, Vinny Zarillo brought them all around with a double to give Rutgers the 8-3 lead.
Down 9-3 after the Scarlet Knights added another in the eighth, the Bulls mounted a final rally. Two singles, a hit batsman, and a Teaf RBI single started the frame. Alex Mendez came up with the bases loaded and delivered a sacrifice fly to right, and after James Ramsay reached on an infield hit, Falla greeted closer Tyler Gebbler with a single to make it 9-6.
USF had the bases loaded - with the tying run at first – for Chris Norton, but the senior hit a grounder back to the hill that resulted in a 1-2-3 double play to end the rally.
Mendez took over on the hill in the ninth, and would allow his first earned run of the year. Gebbler then set the Bulls down in order in the last of the ninth, notching his third save.
The loss for USF was just its first at home in Big East conference play. Overall, the Bulls wrapped up the year with a 25-5 record at the USF Baseball Stadium.
Nine senior were honored in an on-field ceremony before the game - Lovecchio, Mendez, Falla, Norton, Diaz, and Puig, along with Kyle Copack, Chad Taylor, and Steven Leasure.
USF earned the No. 4 seed heading into the Big East Conference tournament, and will be facing a familiar foe in the opening round. Rutgers will be the No. 5 seed, and the two teams will square off at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
-
Bulls Lose Regular-Season Finale 10-6, Finish 4th in Big East
TAMPA – Numerous comeback attempts fell short on Saturday, as USF dropped a 10-6 final to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Senior Day at the USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls took two of three in the series, and will be the No. 4 seed in the Big East Conference Tournament.
USF (35-20, 17-7) fell behind early in the regular-season finale, and could not thwart off the Rutgers offense as the Scarlet Knights (26-28, 14-10) continued to tack on throughout the game. Rutgers got to Bulls senior starter Joey Lovecchio (5-5) for three runs on five hits in just two innings.
The Bulls got one back in the second. After back-to-back strikeouts opened the inning, Anthony Diaz battled his way to a nine-pitch walk off Rutgers starter Rob Corsi. That kept the inning alive for Levi Borders, who dropped a single into right-center, and Nik Alfonso followed with a base hit through the left side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Rutgers lead shrank again in the third, when Jimmy Falla singled with one out and later scored on Blake Sydeski’s RBI single to right.
Corsi lasted four innings for the Scarlet Knights, permitting two runs on six hits. The senior lefty did not factor in the decision.
With Lovecchio done after two, the Bulls called upon midweek starter Mike Clarkson. The right-hander worked around some trouble to throw two scoreless frames before Jeff Melillo opened the fifth with a blast over the wall in left-center, his second homer in as many days. That extended the Rutgers lead to 4-2.
The Scarlet Knights added another with a run off Adrian Puig, but the Bulls kept it close with a run of their own off Jon Young (3-1) in the home half. Falla and Sydeski singles placed men at the corners with one out, and a wild pitch allowed Falla to come in and score the third USF run of the day.
An error opened the door for Rutgers to break it open in the seventh. With two down and a runner at first, a ground ball to Kyle Teaf resulted in the sophomore shortstop firing high over the head of Falla at first, and the ball bounced out of play to allow the runners to take second and third. After a walk loaded the bases, Vinny Zarillo brought them all around with a double to give Rutgers the 8-3 lead.
Down 9-3 after the Scarlet Knights added another in the eighth, the Bulls mounted a final rally. Two singles, a hit batsman, and a Teaf RBI single started the frame. Alex Mendez came up with the bases loaded and delivered a sacrifice fly to right, and after James Ramsay reached on an infield hit, Falla greeted closer Tyler Gebbler with a single to make it 9-6.
USF had the bases loaded - with the tying run at first – for Chris Norton, but the senior hit a grounder back to the hill that resulted in a 1-2-3 double play to end the rally.
Mendez took over on the hill in the ninth, and would allow his first earned run of the year. Gebbler then set the Bulls down in order in the last of the ninth, notching his third save.
The loss for USF was just its first at home in Big East conference play. Overall, the Bulls wrapped up the year with a 25-5 record at the USF Baseball Stadium.
Nine senior were honored in an on-field ceremony before the game - Lovecchio, Mendez, Falla, Norton, Diaz, and Puig, along with Kyle Copack, Chad Taylor, and Steven Leasure.
USF earned the No. 4 seed heading into the Big East Conference tournament, and will be facing a familiar foe in the opening round. Rutgers will be the No. 5 seed, and the two teams will square off at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
-
Walk-off Win Sends Bulls to Series Victory over Rutgers
Tampa- The USF Bulls baseball team had a real nail bitter on Friday evening but came away with a win against the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights (25-28,13-10) 6-5 in front of the largest capacity crowd of the season.
The Bulls (35-19, 17-6) went to work early as they scored three runs in the first inning. Kyle Teaf led off the game with a single into right field. Two batters later, James Ramsay walked and was followed by a ground-rule double by Jimmy Falla to drive in Teaf and make it 1-0. Two batters later, Buddy Putnam hit a long single into right center field bringing around Ramsay and Falla to make the score 3-0.
In the fifth inning, Nick Favatella reached base with a single but would be thrown out in a double play attempt by fellow Scarlet Knight Vinny Zarrillo the next at bat. As Zarillo reached first base safely, Jeff Meilillo stepped up to the plate afterwards and cranked one over the left field fence to shrink the Bulls lead to 3-2.
In the sixth inning, the Scarlet Knights took the lead 4-3 with runs from Brian O’Brady and John Jennings after an error and a wild pitch by the Bulls. The Bulls would, in the same inning, take the lead back.
Chris Norton would start it off with a single followed by a Putnam walk. Kyle Copack laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to the next bases. Zac Gilcrease would hit a two RBI double bringing around Norton and Copack to retake the lead 5-4.
The Scarlet Knights would threaten once again in the ninth inning. Zarrillo would lead off the inning with a single but eventually was thrown out of a double play attempt but Melillo would reach first safely. Steve Zavala walked and Charlie Law would single to load up the bases. O’Brady would hit a sacrifice fly out to deep right center and Melillo would tag up from third to tie the game 5-5.
Nik Alfonso would begin the bottom of the ninth with a double that would eventually prove to be the winning run. Alex Mendez and Ramsay would walk two batters later. Jimmy Falla would come up with the bases loaded and hit into a fielder’s choice which allowed Alfonso to score for a final score of 6-5.
The Bulls will play their final regular season game Saturday on Senior Day against Rutgers at 1:00pm.
-
Bulls Win Big Over Rutgers, 11-4
TAMPA - - USF baseball defeated Rutgers (25-27) on Thursday, 11-4. USF advances to (34-19) on the season.
The Bulls started out strong at the plate, putting up nine runs in the first two innings. In the first, Kyle Teaf, Alex Mendez, James Ramsay and Jimmy Falla all had hits. Chris Norton popped one in the air allowing Ramsay to tag up and score, and Anthony Diaz bunted allowing Falla to come home. At the end of one, the Bulls were sitting pretty with a lead of 4-0.
Early in the second inning, Ramsay slammed one to deep center field for a double to bring Mendez home, and this brought on the first of three pitching changes for the Scarlet Knights. After Falla walked, Norton would hit a double to deep center field allowing Ramsay and Falla to ease across the plate. After two innings the Bulls had a commanding lead of 9-0.
The Scarlet Knights had a slew of wild pitches and ended up with three errors on the night. The Scarlet Knights also left a total of 11 men on base.
Ramsay finished with four hits and two RBI’s, Mendez finished with two hits and two RBI’s and Norton with one hit and three RBI’s.
Jimmy Herget got the win for the Bulls, as he pitched a total of five innings and only allowed six hits and two runs.
The Bulls will play the second game of a three game series with Rutgers on May 17 at 7 p.m.