CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 3 South Florida defeated No. 2 Charlotte, 7-6, in an elimination game on Friday afternoon, May 23, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
 
With the win, South Florida (31-24) advances to the semifinals on Saturday, May 24. The Bulls will have to win two games against East Carolina to advance to Sunday’s final. The first game on Saturday is scheduled for approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
 
With the game tied at 5-5 in the top of the eighth, South Florida loaded the bases with no outs when Rafael Betancourt hit a 2-run single up the middle that scored Ryan Pruitt and Matt Rose.
 
Connor Maryniak led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run to right center to bring Charlotte within one at 7-6, Austin Newton (2-3) closed out the game with three straight outs, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
 
Newton finished with four innings of work, allowing one run with six strikeouts, to earn the win.
 
Adam Stanton (4-2) took the loss for Charlotte, allowing two runs in 2.2 innings of relief.
 
2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
 
Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 | Box Score | Highlights
 
Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
 
Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane 10, No. 1 UTSA 6 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina 6, No. 2 Charlotte 5 | Box Score | Highlights
 
Friday, May 23
Game 9: No. 1 UTSA 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 (Florida Atlantic eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 10: No. 3 South Florida 7, No. 2 Charlotte 6 (Charlotte eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
 
Saturday, May 24
Game 11: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 3 South Florida | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS and ESPN+
 
All times listed are Eastern.