USF enters the weekend ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation, owning a 32-9 overall record and a 7-5 mark in The American. The Bulls are coming off a 6-0 midweek loss to Stetson on Wednesday. USF has won American series over Memphis and UCF, but dropped series to Cincinnati and Tulane. As a team, the Bulls are hitting .304 and slugging .442 with 31 home runs and 80 doubles. Kevin Merrell leads the conference with a .403 average, while Luke Borders paces the team with 58 hits and David Villar with 41 RBI. The pitching staff owns a conference-best 2.68 ERA with 435 strikeouts to 135 walks. RHP Phoenix Sanders will go Friday for the Bulls, owning a 6-1 record and a 2.35 ERA. He has fanned 76 and walked 16 in 61.1 innings. LHP Shane McClanahan is scheduled for Saturday, owning a 3.00 ERA and a 4-1 record in 10 starts, while fanning 70 in 51.0 innings.
SERIES HISTORY VS. USF
Houston and USF have met 34 previous times, dating back to 1997. The Cougars own the all-time series over the Bulls, 22-12. Houston is 8-7 all-time in Tampa, Fla. The Cougars won the 2016 series, 2-1, at Schroeder Park. Last Meeting | April 24, 2016 | Houston 7, USF 5 (5)
Whitting says in the pregame that they pulled Hurdsman that early not just for performance, but also because he’ll probably be used this weekend with King going down. Guessing he may be the Sunday starter.
Also says that Ullom was the planned Friday starter all along and will be the Friday starter going forward. Cumbie will be the Saturday guy.
Top 3rd
Lockhart walks on 4 pitches
Lockhat to 2nd on an error on a pickoff
Champion singles up the middle, Lockhart to 3rd
Wong grounds into a 5-4-3 Double play, Lockhart scores…Coogs lead 2-0
Hollis grounds out to the pitcher
Bottom 3rd
4 pitch walk, Fielder’s Choice, and a single put runners on 1st/2nd with 1 out
Flyout to deep center, runner tags and goes to 3rd
Popout to 2nd ends the inning
Top 4th
Julks on as the ball goes under the 3B glove (E5)
Scheiner flies out to right
Wild pitch moves Julks to 2nd
Davis Ks looking
Bielamowicz Ks swinging
Top 5th
Triolo singles to left
Lockhart singles to right center, Triolo to 3rd
Champion grounds into a 6-4-3 double play, Triolo scores…Coogs lead 3-0
Wong flies out to left
Bottom 5th
Walk, 6-4-3 double play, homerun…Coogs lead 3-1
Double and 1 base error on Julks puts a runner at 3rd with 2 outs
Double scores another…Coogs lead 3-2
Flyout to deep right ends the damage
Top 6th
Hollis pops out to 1st
BOOM! Julks homers to left…Coogs lead 4-2
Scheiner doubles to right center
BOOM! Davis homers to left…Coogs lead 6-2
Bielamowicz bunt single down the 3rd base line
Triolo doubles to left, Bielamowicz to 3rd
Lockhart grounds out to 2nd, Bielamowicz scores, Triolo to 3rd…Coogs lead 7-2
Champion Ks looking
