GoUSFBulls.com Chatfield Homers Twice as Bulls' Win Streak Ends

[Brad]

Chatfield Homers Twice as Bulls' Win Streak Ends

March 16, 2016
By  USF

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (MARCH 16, 2016) – The University of South Florida baseball team (10-8) received a career-high two home runs from outfielder Chris Chatfield (Riverview, Fla.) but North Florida (11-8) rallied back from an early deficit to hand the Bulls a 7-6 defeat on Wednesday night.

USF pounced on Ospreys pitcher Frank German in the opening frame. First baseman Duke Stunkel Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) plated infielder David Villar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) with an RBI single. Following another base-hit, Chatfield crushed a three-run home run to right field. His first of two home runs on the night gave USF the early 4-0 advantage.

UNF also utilized home runs to cut the deficit in half. The Ospreys hit solo home runs in the first and third innings to make the score 4-2.

After yielding a run in the first, Bulls pitcher Michael Clarkson (Oldsmar, Fla.) settled down to retire 13 of the next 15 hitters he faced.

The Ospreys then threatened again in the sixth. Clarkson surrendered back-to-back hits before allowing a run on a wild pitch. Clinging to a 4-3 lead, the redshirt-senior struck out Christian Diaz and received back-to-back defensive stops from Villar to prevent the tying run from scoring.

The Bulls increased the deficit with Chatfield’s eighth inning home run. USF also tallied another run off a UNF error in the ninth for a 6-3 edge.

Following two scoreless innings from reliever Garrett Bye (Riverview, Fla.), the Bulls turned to pitcher Mark Savarese (Palm City, Fla.) for the bottom of the ninth. Trailing by three, UNF scored four runs in the inning, including a game-winning RBI single from Diaz, for the 7-6 comeback win.

The Bulls season high, four-game winning streak comes to an end with the defeat.

Clarkson, who was pitching on his 23^rd birthday, received the no-decision. He delivered a quality start of 6.0 innings and three runs allowed. His four strikeouts fell one shy of tying his career high.

Chatfield finished the game 2-for-3 with two home runs, two runs scored and four RBIs. He becomes the first Bull to hit two home runs in a game since teammate Levi Borders (Winter Haven, Fla.) accomplished the feat against Houston on April 25, 2015.  

Villar also posted two hits and a run scored.

This weekend, USF will welcome Michigan State, ranked No. 25 by Baseball America, for a three-game series. The Friday and Saturday contests will be held at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday game begins at 12:00 p.m. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com.

 

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[Brad]

[Brad]

In fierce need of one of those jerseys.....

[NewEnglandBull]

This is a 500 team. Terrible pitching. So disappointing after the hype from the new recruits and getting to the NCAA Tourny last year. 

[Brad]

View from afar:

Brought in a lot of new freshman talent.  Of all times to be patient, this might be it.

[Ionbull]

There is a lot of inconsistency in the pitching staff, but they seem to have the most trouble during these mid-week games. Let's see how the team progresses into conference play. 

[CousinRicky]

With 3 (or is it now 4?) pitchers (2 of whom were to be weekend starters) out with Tommy John surgery everyone on the staff had to move up to rolls they may not have been originally been penciled in.  Patience.  The fact that we had a 4 game win streak is pretty amazing.

[NewEnglandBull]

Not sure but is it a slam dunk to come off TJ Surgery? 

[JTrue]

7 hours ago, NewEnglandBull said:

Not sure but is it a slam dunk to come off TJ Surgery? 

These days, it's as close as can be to automatic. But it's about an 18 month recovery.