South Florida came from behind to defeat No. 7 Florida in American Athletic Conference baseball action on Wednesday, February 22.

Wednesday, February 22
Memphis 19, Mississippi Valley State 10 - Box Score
South Florida 10, No. 7 Florida 9 - Box Score
Utah Tech 12, Wichita State 4 - Box Score
UTSA 12, Houston 2 - Box Score

Memphis 19, Mississippi Valley State 10 - Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team had hot bats all afternoon in a 19-10 win over Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. Six Tigers had multi-hit games, including redshirt-freshman Shane Cox, who ended the day 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI.

The Diamond Devils jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run double down the right-field line off the bat of Kyndell Dolphin. Memphis got on the board in the bottom of the second when catcher Jonah Sutton, making his first start of the season, blasted a solo shot to left-center field.

The Tigers exploded for six runs in the in the bottom of the sixth inningto break a 7-7 tie in what would prove to be the game's turning point. Singles by Sutton and Brayland Skinner and a walk by Spears loaded the bases for Cox, who cashed in on the opportunity with a grand slam to left-center field. An RBI-single by Jake Curtis and sac-fly by Jimerson made it a six-run inning and a 13-7 Tiger lead.

Left-handed pitcher Luke Ellis got his first start on the mound for the Tigers and went two innings, allowing a pair of earned runs on three hits and punching out a pair of MVSU batters. Redshirt-sophomore Hudson Ross pitched three innings of relief and earned the win for Memphis. Ross struck out five Diamond Devils and allowed just a pair of hits and two earned runs.

South Florida 10, No. 7 Florida 9 - Box Score
GAINESVILLE (February 22, 2023) – The University of South Florida Bulls stormed back from an 8-3 deficit in the ninth inning on Wednesday night to hand No. 7 Florida its first loss of the season in a thrilling 10-9 comeback victory at Condron Family Ballpark.

Drew Brutcher sparked the seven-run frame with a leadoff homer to open the top of the ninth inning. Jackson Mayo, who came off the bench as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth, tied the game with a three-run home run. With two outs, Daniel Cantu gave South Florida a 9-8 lead with an RBI-triple and later scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring frenzy.

Freshman Chandler Dorsey picked up his first collegiate win out of the bullpen.

Nelson Rivera had a career-high four hits in the game and a pair of RBI, including a run-scoring single in the seven-run ninth inning.

Bobby Boser remained red-hot to begin the season and reached base four times with a pair of hits, a walk and a HBP. The sophomore has hit safely in all five games this year against Top 25 opponents.

Utah Tech 12, Wichita State 4 - Box Score
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah Tech used five home runs, including three from Sean Keating, to defeat Wichita State 12-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field.

Keating became the first player since 2010 to homer three times against the Shockers. He connected for solo shots in the third and eighth innings, sandwiched around a grand slam in the sixth.

The Trailblazers (2-3) grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first when Tyson Fisher doubled home a run with two outs against WSU starter Cameron Bye (0-1). The Shockers got an RBI double of their own from Garrett Pennington in the top of the third to draw even at 1-1, but Utah Tech seized control with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Bryker Hurdsman laced a three-run homer to right-center, then Keating and Fisher followed with solo home runs for a 6-1 advantage.

UTSA 12, Houston 2 - Box Score
SAN ANTONIO – University of Houston Baseball dropped its first road contest of the season, falling 12-2 in seven innings at UTSA from Roadrunner Field on Wednesday evening. 

UTSA (3-1) jump-started the scoring in the first inning before tacking on two more in the third and fifth frames as part of a 13-hit day.

The Cougars (1-3) threatened to score multiple times but could not break through until the seventh inning. With runners on the corners, sophomore Nate Price reached on a fielder's choice, sending junior Nick Collins home. 

Junior Dylan Post immediately followed with a single to the pitcher to load the bases. Junior Zach Arnold drew a bases loaded walk to bring junior Jacob Schoenvogel across the plate to make the score 11-2. 

In his first start of the season, Houston sophomore Malachi Lott (0-1) permitted just one unearned run without a hit while walking a pair with one strikeout. UTSA reliever Simon Miller (2-0) worked around two hits in 2.0 innings.