Florida never led.
The No. 6 Gators (3-1) dropped their first game of 2019 to South Florida (3-1) on the road 6-1. The Bulls left more runners on base and committed two more errors than UF, but the Gators could not overcome a combined two-hitter by the USF pitching staff.
“This was our first road game, and obviously we didn’t handle the stage very well,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
The Bulls scored two quick runs in the first inning off sophomore starter Hunter McMullen his third career start. Nick Gonzalez led off with a single and came around to score three batters later on a fielder’s choice. Austin Bodrato singled to left field in the very next at-bat to send Jordan Santos home.
It was ultimately the three-hit, two-run first inning that sunk the Gators.
The next three runs came on home runs, two by USF, one by UF. Joe Genord hit a solo shot in the third inning to extend the Bulls’ lead to 3-0.
Freshman center fielder Jud Fabian responded in the sixth inning by launching his first career home run, putting the Gators on the board and breaking up the combined no-hitter. Baron Stuart left the Gators hitless through four innings, before being replaced by Richie Cruz, who allowed the Fabian home run.
Chris Chatfield homered for the Bulls in the seventh inning to put them ahead by three runs. A Kyle Phillips double later that inning scored Garrett Zech and Gonzalez to give USF extra insurance and a 6-1 lead.
Senior second baseman Blake Reese did not play after injuring his shoulder against Long Beach State. Freshman Cory Acton started in his place. Reese is not expected to play against UNF today but may return to the lineup this weekend against Miami, O’Sullivan said.
Florida had a prime opportunity in the top of the seventh to tie the game up, or at least cut into the deficit.
With Nelson Maldonado on first and Brady McConnell on third after a single by the former and a walk by the latter, USF pitcher Logan Lyle proceeded to strike out Wil Dalton, Kendrick Calilao and Acton to end the inning and neutralize the threat.
Florida struggled greatly on the mound.
The Gators’ pitching staff combined for six strikeouts, a season-high seven walks and allowed a season-high 12 hits. McMullen struggled early on, and the bullpen did not pick it up in his stead. No pitchers for UF lasted three innings.
Justin Alintoff was first out of the bullpen, walking three batters and striking out two. He worked his way out of a jam in the fourth inning, striking out two batters with bases loaded to end the inning. Alintoff lasted 2 2/3 innings and was replaced by Jordan Butler.
Three of the four batters who faced Butler reached base. He gave up two hits and walked one batter. Butler was promptly pulled. Hunter Ruth yielded the seventh-inning surge that allowed USF to put the game away. Kirby McMullen threw a scoreless eighth inning with a strikeout, and he was arguably Florida’s best pitcher.
Florida’s performance at the plate was not much better, striking out a combined 13 times. Eleven of the 13 batters that logged an at-bat struck out. Maldonado and Jason Young were the only ones who did not. UF also had a season-low two hits against the Bulls.
“We’ve got to do a better job making adjustments,” O’Sullivan said. “These are the type of learning experiences that we’ll learn from and get better from.”
Follow Kyle Wood on Twitter @Kkylewood and contact him at kwood@alligator.org.
Florida designated hitter Nelson Maldonado had one of UF's two hits in its 6-1 loss to USF on Tuesday in Tampa.
