USF tops Illinois State

[March 16, 2012]  TAMPA, Fla. -- Despite an early Illinois State lead, South Florida came from behind to beat the Redbirds 10-5 Wednesday evening at USF Baseball Stadium. The Bulls outhit ISU 13-7, and Illinois State committed three errors while USF had one.

"The last two nights are indicative that we still have work to do," said Redbird head coach Mark Kingston. "There still is another level that we have to get to. We will take the lessons that we learned from the last two games, we will make adjustments, and we will be better because of playing this great competition."

For ISU (10-5), Mike Hollenbeck led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including one RBI and one run scored. USF (12-6) was paced by James Ramsay and Chad Taylor, who each went 3 for 4 with one RBI and one run. Redbird starter Matt Schmitt (1-1) suffered the loss after pitching 2 1-3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. Kyle Parker (1-2) was awarded the win for pitching 1 1-3 shutout innings in relief of starter Derrick Stultz.

For the second consecutive night, Kevin Tokarski led off the game with a single. He later scored the game’s first run on a groundout by Kyle Stanton. South Florida responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Redbirds regained the advantage in the top of the second. Hollenbeck led off with a base hit, and Chad Hinshaw and Kevin Tokarski each walked before Ty Wiesemeyer drove everyone home with a three-RBI double to put ISU ahead 4-2.

USF scored two more runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game, but Illinois State took the lead again in the third inning with an RBI single by Hollenbeck that made the score 5-4. However, South Florida took the lead permanently in the bottom of the frame with three runs. The Bulls added three more insurance runs in the seventh inning to secure a 10-5 advantage.

The Redbirds, who have lost two consecutive games, will attempt to bounce back Friday against Navy at 1 p.m. Central time at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla.

[Text from file received from Illinois State]