Tampa, Fla. – (February 25, 2018) – USF's J.D. Dutka had a home run and four RBI, while Graham Hoffman drove in three runs, as the Bulls earned a 13-4 win over the Fordham Rams in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at USF Baseball Stadium.
The loss puts Fordham's record at 3-3-1 overall, while USF improved to 3-4.
Fordham struck early with single runs in the first and second inning to lead by a 2-0 score. In the first,
Jake Baker singled to left center to start the game and moved to second when
Billy Godrick was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice by
Alvin Melendez moved the runners up a base,
Justin Bardwell singled through the left side to plate Baker. The following inning,
Jake MacKenzie tripled to right center with one out and scored on a ground out by
Brian Goulard.
However, the Bulls found their offensive groove in the third inning, scoring five times, highlighted by a three-run home run by J.D. Dutka for a 5-2 lead. USF then scored three more times in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-2.
C.J. Vazquez
The score remained that way until the eighth when Fordham cut the lead in half to 8-4.
Justin Machado and Goulard both drew walks, and then scored on a two-run double down the left field line by
C.J. Vazquez.
USF though would get five runs in the bottom half of the eighth to seal up a 13-4 win.
For Fordham,
Mike Cowell (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits over 2.2 innings with three strikeouts, as the Rams used eight pitchers in the game. At the plate, Bardwell was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Baker was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Vazquez finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI, with Goulard finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI, a runs scored, and two walks.
The Rams will next be in action next weekend, March 2-4, when Fordham travels to Harrisonburg, Virginia for a three-game series at James Madison.
