Hurricanes blow away Bulls in first game of Florida Four

Posted Mar 2, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Mar 2, 2010 at 09:58 PM

As far as openings go, Tuesday was one the University of South Florida baseball team would like to press the delete key and forget.

“I’m totally embarrassed,’’ Bulls coach Lelo Prado said.

From the first batter in the first game of the first Florida Four Baseball Classic at Steinbrenner Field, nothing went right for the Bulls in a 15-2 loss to Miami.

The first batter of the game — Miami leadoff hitter Zeke DeVoss — reached on an error by Bulls shortstop Chad Taylor, who was in the lineup because sophomore Sam Mende missed the first game of his college career due to an injured hamstring.

DeVoss later scored on a two-run double by Yasmani Grandal, and the rout was under way. Miami, ranked 16th by Baseball America, chased Bulls starter Teddy Kaufman after he faced two batters without recording an out in the fourth inning. In three innings, Kaufman allowed three hits, walked six and allowed seven runs, only three of them earned thanks to USF’s shoddy defense.

Miami (6-1) blew the game open with four runs in the fourth, the key hit Michael Broad’s three-run triple off USF reliever Matt Quevedo that gave the Hurricanes a 9-0 lead.

The Bulls managed only six hits and two runs off Miami starter Steven Ewing, and the Bulls’ three errors increased their total to 10 through seven games.

“If you are going to get where we want to go, you’ve got to compete,’’ Prado said. “That can’t come from coaches. That’s got to come from players getting out there and competing.’‘

When asked what concerns him the most about USF’s 1-6 start, Prado didn’t hesitate.

“Everything,’’ he said. “You’ve got to make plays and you’ve got to hit. Our older guys have to step up. We’re just not very good right now. We’ve got to get a lot better real fast.’‘

The Bulls next travel to Oklahoma for the Sooner Classic, opening the tournament against the host Sooners at noon on Thursday.