Bulls bits

By ROD GIPSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 3, 2000

TAMPA -- USF's baseball team took time out from its 10-game homestand Wednesday to face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays is an exhibition. Using mostly regulars except for Jose Canseco during the game's early innings, the Devil Rays topped the Bulls 13-0.

Tampa Bay outfielder Danny Clyburn hit a two-run homer off losing pitcher John Vigue in the third, and the Devil Rays scored four times in both the sixth and eighth innings.

The Bulls used seven pitchers, including starter David Richtberg. Vigue, along with John Gorham, Brenden Fuller and Jimmy Daniels, recorded strikeouts.

On offense, USF had six hits, coming from Dan Boyd, Ben Drawdy, Mike Eylward, Chris Cuccia, Mike Barclay and Bill Nahorodny.

USF (5-8) resumes its regular season schedule today, beginning a three-game series against with Siena (N.Y.) College at Red McEwen Field.

SOFTBALL: After impressive performances in the USF Tournament, freshmen Jaime Peterka and Renee Oursler were named Conference USA Pitcher and Hitter of the Week, respectively.

Peterka was 1-0 with two saves. She pitched 12.2 innings in the tournament, including an 11-inning, 2-1 victory against Michigan.

Oursler was honored after a 5-for-10 weekend with six RBI and two runs. In the bottom of the ninth against Michigan, with the Bulls trailing 1-0 with two outs and a runner on second, Oursler doubled to right-centerfield, scoring form second and tying the score game at 1.

Oursler went 2-for-3 in the following game against Auburn with five RBI and two runs, helping the Bulls finished the weekend in second place at 4-1.

MEN'S GOLF: Florida Southern captured the Ron Smith Invitational at the USF Golf Course, winning the 18-team event by 13 strokes. USF finished sixth, 26 strokes off the pace. Patrick Watermeier was the Bulls' low scorer, finishing 18th with 7-over-par 220, nine shots behind medalist Jeff Klauk of FSC.

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