When the American Athletic Conference baseball coaches released their preseason poll last December, they didn’t seem to think much of USF.
The Bulls were picked to finish seventh out of the AAC’s 10 baseball schools. Rafael Betancourt, Jr. was the only USF player to make the preseason all-conference team.
Well, the Bulls fooled them.
With a 6-5 win over preseason favorite East Carolina on Saturday, USF clinched the No. 3 seed in the AAC tournament at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater.
Notably, the Bulls stole a season-high seven bases in the win.
The Bulls will open the double-elimination tournament on Tuesday, May 20, also against East Carolina.
Head coach Mitch Hannahs, in his first year on the job after taking over for Billy Mohl, wasted no time putting his stamp on the program.
USF’s 29 overall wins are the most for the program since 2018. The Bulls’ 16 AAC wins are the most in school history.
Hannahs is also receiving acclaim for recruiting. Perfect Game ranks USF’s incoming class as the 35th best in the country and second in the AAC.
Men’s Track and Field runs away with AAC title
The juggernaut program claimed a fourth consecutive conference championship with a dominating performance in the AAC outdoor meet.
The streak combines the indoor and outdoor conference meets. Houston is the only other AAC team to accomplish that feat, and only Houston and Wichita State have won consecutive outdoor championships.
"It was an unbelievable weekend for our program — from the records to the sweep performances, to the competitive fire shown by our student-athletes," USF Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Erik Jenkins said.
"This group continues to raise the standard for South Florida Track and Field, and I couldn't be more proud of how they represented the university and each other."
The USF women were also a strong second in the outdoor meet, which was won by Charlotte.
Men’s golf team heads to national championship
For the fifth time in program history, USF will compete for the NCAA championship starting May 23 in Carlsbad, CA.
The Bulls earned their way into the event by finishing fourth in the Bremerton, WA. Regional. They began the final round in seventh place in the 54-hole event but had the day's low score with a 10-under 278.
Senior Jake Peacock’s birdie on the 18th hole clinched USF’s trip to Carlsbad.
“Nothing but pure joy,” he said. “After coming up just short last year and in this year's Conference Championship, punching that ticket in my final year with this group of guys is truly special."
Hodgson’s recruiting is getting noticed
New USF men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson had a reputation as a strong recruiter when he came to Tampa. In a short time, he has proven that it is true.
247Sports ranks USF’s incoming freshman class No. 1 in the AAC. It also places the Bulls’ influx from the transfer portal as second in the conference.