Photo Courtesy USF Baseball
TAMPA — The University of South Florida got a complete game shutout from Phoenix Sanders to lead the Bulls to a 4-0 win over Dartmouth at USF Baseball Stadium. Sanders allowed just five hits, struck out seven and walked one on 92 pitches.
“It is good to get a complete game with less than 100 pitches. That is what you want out of your Friday night guy.” said USF head coach Mark Kingston. ” He has just been consistent all year for us, as he was tonight”
The Bulls opened the scoring in the fifth when Chris Chatfield hit a majestic home run, his sixth of the season to right field. Kevin Merrell doubled home Coco Montes later in the inning and the Bulls had all the runs they would need and led 2-0.
USF tacked on 2 more runs the eighth on RBI hit by Luke Borders and Duke Stunkel for a 4-0 lead.
Cole O’Connor pitched into the eight for Dartmouth, allowing three runs on five hits, but took the loss.
Photo - Don Miller - College Baseball Central
Game Notes:
Before the game USF announced that senior catcher Levi Borders would miss the remainder of the season with a bacterial infection and would be red-shirted, meaning he will have an opportunity to come back in 2017.
I have covered the Bulls for the past three seasons and there isn’t another player I would rather watch play more than Borders. Part of my pre-game ritual is to walk down to the dugout and check on the line-up posted on the dugout wall.
Borders is one of the names I check for first. He will be sorely missed and heres hoping he has a speedy recovery.
The Bulls turned three double-plays tonight and continue to play solid defense.
The home run Chris Chatfield hit tonight was last seen headed to Brandon. The right-fielder for Dartmouth gave it a courtesy look and chase, but would have needed some type of motorized transportation to catch that one.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the ball comes off his bat as hot as any college player you will see, and he is still learning the college game.
