TAMPA, Fla. — A new season always brings hope, excitement, and expectations, and for the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls, the 2015 baseball season began with a mixture of promise and challenge. The team kicked off the home portion of its season on February 18, 2015, at the USF Baseball Stadium, hosting the No. 5 team in the nation, the University of Florida Gators. The Gators, coming off a short bus ride from Gainesville, were more than ready to spoil the Bulls’ home opener, sealing a dominant 13-3 victory.
The opening series for USF had already been a rollercoaster of emotions. Under the guidance of Coach Mark Kingston, the Bulls traveled to Clearwater, Florida, for a season-opening tournament hosted at the Philadelphia Phillies’ Class A affiliate’s stadium, Bright House Field. They started strong with a 2-1 win over No. 17 California State University – Fullerton, thanks to a stellar pitching performance. However, a tough loss to the University of Louisville (7-2) was followed by an explosive 12-4 victory over Alabama State University, where the Bulls’ offense came alive.
For Coach Kingston, however, the tournament was already behind them. “We have to flush that,” he said after the game. “It’s all about focusing on the next opponent, and right now, that’s Florida.” Despite the Bulls’ solid start to the season, they knew facing a team like the Gators would be a tough test right out of the gate.
Coach Kingston, who had faced the Gators twice during his tenure at Illinois State University, was still seeking his first victory over Florida. Unfortunately, the wait would continue. The Gators proved to be too much for USF, as they dominated the game from start to finish.
The standout performance of the game came from Florida’s starting pitcher, Brent Morales. The right-hander was virtually untouchable, retiring all 18 batters he faced in six perfect innings, striking out seven along the way. His performance left the Bulls struggling to even make contact with his pitches.
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan recognized the significance of Morales’ start. “That was as good of a start as I’ve seen in quite some time,” O’Sullivan commented after the game. “Brett kept USF hitters off-balance, and he was able to mix all of his pitches early in the count. I’m pleased with how he threw. It was hard to take a pitcher out with a perfect game through six innings, but it’s still early in the year, and you have to look at the big picture.”
The Bulls’ frustrations were clear, as they could not solve Morales. Kingston himself was complimentary of the Gators’ starter, acknowledging the difficulty of facing a pitcher who could dominate all night. “His stuff was outstanding,” Kingston said. “When a pitcher is ahead in the count like that, he can do whatever he wants on the mound.”
After Morales was pulled in the sixth inning, the Gators’ bullpen kept the pressure on, with left-handed reliever Danny Young shutting down the Bulls for the remainder of the game. But in the seventh inning, USF managed to break up the no-hitter, getting their first hit off Young. The crowd, though small at 2,059, erupted as the Bulls put together a two-run rally, momentarily cutting into the Gators’ lead and reigniting hope among their supporters.
However, the Gators responded swiftly and decisively in the top of the eighth. A massive seven-run outburst effectively put the game out of reach for USF, solidifying their dominance. The key hit of the inning came from Florida catcher J.J. Schwartz, who delivered a three-bagger off Bulls reliever Ryan Valdes. Schwartz finished the game with three hits and five RBIs, a key contributor to Florida’s offensive surge.
Florida’s left fielder Harrison Bader, who had been scorching hot at the plate, continued his strong start to the season. Batting an impressive .583 with three home runs and 11 RBIs heading into the game, Bader went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and three RBIs, capping off a strong offensive performance for the Gators.
On the other side, the Bulls’ pitching staff, including starter Tommy Peterson, struggled to keep up. Peterson allowed seven hits and five runs in his 4 2/3 innings, striking out six but walking three batters. His inability to contain Florida’s offense, coupled with the Gators’ overwhelming performance at the plate, meant that the game was all but decided by the time the eighth inning rolled around.
Despite the blowout loss, Coach Kingston remained optimistic about his team’s future. “It’s early in the season. There’s a long way to go,” Kingston said after the game. “This loss is tough, especially to an in-state rival like Florida, but we have to move on. We’ll learn from it, and we’ll get better.”
For the Bulls, there was a clear takeaway from the game: the road to success this season would not be easy. To make a deep run, they would need to tighten up their pitching and improve their offensive consistency. And despite the lopsided scoreline, Kingston remained confident in his team’s potential.
Looking ahead, the Bulls’ next test came quickly, with a three-game series against Wagner College starting on Friday, February 20. Kingston knew that his team couldn’t afford to dwell on the loss to Florida. “We have to learn from this,” he said. “It’s one game, and it doesn’t define our season. We’re ready to get back on track.”
As the season progressed, the Bulls would face even tougher opponents, but the lessons from their defeat to the Gators would serve as a valuable reminder of the need to stay focused, stay disciplined, and most importantly, never take their opponents lightly. The road to postseason success would require resilience, and the Bulls were determined to bounce back stronger.
The 2015 baseball season was only just beginning, and for the USF Bulls, the journey had only begun, with plenty of opportunities to prove that they could stand tall against the nation’s best teams.