STATISTICS
Tuesday, April 2 Results:
Highlights:
Four American Athletic Conference baseball teams opened their April slates with midweek wins Tuesday, as the league improved to 119 – 81 (.595) against nonconference opponents this year. American teams combined to outscored their foes 55-34 Tuesday. The Sunshine State duo of UCF and USF both scored in double digits to bounce back from weekend series losses. Wichita State won its sixth-straight game, while Houston completed a second-consecutive comeback road win at Lamar. The American will combine for five more nonconference games Wednesday before returning to conference play over the weekend.
USF 15, Florida Gulf Coast 4
USF erupted for a season-high 20 hits, as 10 different players recorded a base knock in Tuesday's 15-4 drubbing of Florida Gulf Coast. Joe Genord hit a grand slam in the third inning to power an eight-run surge. Every Bull that played reached base safely, as seven USF batters enjoyed a multi-hit performance. The team also walked eight times to supplement their 20 hits. Genord finished 3-for-5 with three runs and had four RBIs for the third time this season. Kyle Phillips and Austin Bodrato each tallied three hits. USF’s bullpen tossed the final seven innings, allowing only one run. The War on I-4 resumes Friday in Orlando. First pitch in the latest installment is set for 6 p.m. ET.
UCF 13, Stetson 4
UCF improved to 8-0 in midweek games after striking for 13 runs against Stetson to win 13-4. The Knights completed a season sweep of the Hatters by totaling 12 hits and drawing nine walks. Ray Alejo and Dallas Beaver both went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs to pace the offense. Alejo matched his career high with three runs scored, while Beaver extended his team-leading RBI tally to 31. Nine different Knights recorded a base hit and seven drove in a run. UCF used eight arms out of the bullpen. UCF will return to John Euliano Park this weekend for a three-game set in the War on I-4 against USF.
Houston 8, Lamar 7
For the second-straight game, Houston used a late rally to push ahead on the road, edging Lamar 8-7. Joe Davis hit the game-winning solo home run in the ninth inning for his team-leading 12th long ball of the season. Rey Fuentes III led the Cougars with three hits, including a solo home run. Houston’s bullpen combined for four shutout innings, as righthander Fred Villarreal retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the year. Houston will host No. 11 ECU in a three-game series this weekend. The series opener will be broadcasted live on the American Digital Network Friday night.
Wichita State 9, Kansas 1
Wichita State extended its winning streak to six-straight games, as the Shockers scored nine runs, including six with two outs, in a 9-1 victory over Kansas. With the win, the Shockers completed a season series sweep of the Jayhawks. Wichita State resumes American Athletic Conference play with a three-game series at Tulane this weekend. Freshman David VanVooren went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, while junior Jacob Katzfey tallied a double and triple, and batted in a run. Tommy Barnhouse earned the win on the mound after allowing one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in a career-high seven innings pitched.
New Orleans 8, Tulane 7 (10)
Down by five runs, Tulane tied the game at 6-6 with a pair of RBIs in the seventh inning, but Robert Fabelo hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning to hand the New Orleans Privateers Game 1 of the Pelican Cup. David Bedgood drove in the go-ahead run for the Green Wave in the top of the 10th to briefly give Tulane a 7-6 advantage. Kody Hoese went a career-best 5-for-5 with three RBIs and two home runs. He leads The American with 14 homers this season. Bedgood ended the night with three hits. Tulane will host Wichita State in a three-game American series over the weekend.
Fairfield 10, No. 22 UConn 3
The Huskies gave up a season-high 19 hits and never led after the Stags scored three runs in the first and second innings on the way to a 10-3 win at J.O. Christian Field. John Toppa (2-2) recorded a multi-hit game for the Huskies while Anthony Prato reached base twice to extend his on-base streak to 33 games in a row. The Huskies look to regroup on Wednesday with a home game against UMass Lowell at 3 p.m. ET.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 3
UMass Lowell at UConn - 3 p.m.
Cincinnati at Ohio State - 6:30 p.m.
Duke at ECU - 6:30 p.m.
Florida International at Houston - 7:30 p.m.
Memphis at Arkansas State - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 5
USF at UCF* - 6 p.m.
Cincinnati at UConn* - 7 p.m.
Southern at Memphis - 7 p.m.
Wichita State at Tulane* - 7:30 p.m.
ECU at Houston* - (ADN) 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6
Cincinnati at UConn* - 2 p.m.
Southern at Memphis - 3 p.m.
Wichita State at Tulane* - 3 p.m.
USF at UCF* - 6 p.m.
ECU at Houston* - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 7
Cincinnati at UConn* - Noon
USF at UCF* - 1 p.m.
ECU at Houston* - 2 p.m.
Southern at Memphis - 2 p.m.
Wichita State at Tulane* - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game