Bulls Take 2 From The Columbia Lions On The Diamond To Take Their Record to 17-3.

TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida Bulls continued their scorching start to the 2026 season on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against the Columbia Lions at USF Baseball Stadium.

Relying on a suffocating pitching performance in a 2-0 matinee win, followed by a late-inning offensive explosion to take the nightcap 10-6, the Bulls (17-3) extended their win streak to eight games. The Lions, meanwhile, dropped to 2-10 on the year despite showing plenty of fight at the plate in Game 2.

Game 1: Senay plays the ace in 2-0 pitcher’s duel

If the Bulls were looking for a tone-setter for the weekend, they found it in Michael Senay.

The USF starter was masterful, tossing 7.1 shutout innings to earn the win (3-0). Senay scattered hits and kept the Columbia lineup off balance all afternoon, striking out six without issuing a single walk.

The Bulls manufactured all the offense they would need in the bottom of the second inning. Catcher Lance Trippel laced a two-out double, setting the table for Jacob Green, who drove an RBI single through the right side to make it 1-0.

Columbia threatened to break through multiple times, largely thanks to designated hitter Cole Fellows, who paced the Lions with a 3-for-4 showing. But whenever trouble brewed, the USF defense clamped down. The Bulls added an insurance run in the seventh when Bradke Lohry singled to center to score Jack Lutz, and reliever Ethan Sutton slammed the door with 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up his third save of the year.

Lions starter Tomas Lopez was handed a hard-luck loss (0-2), allowing just one run on seven hits over six strong innings.

Game 1 Key Box Score Stats:

• USF: M. Senay (W, 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB); B. Lohry (3-for-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI); L. Trippel (3-for-4, 1 2B)
• COL: T. Lopez (L, 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB); C. Fellows (3-for-4, 1 2B)

Game 2: Graulau’s clutch triple breaks open 10-6 slugfest

The second half of the doubleheader traded the pitching clinic for a track meet. The teams combined for 16 runs and 25 hits, trading blows into the late innings before USF ultimately pulled away.

Columbia found its power stroke in Game 2. Tate Vogler launched a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning, and Jack Kail—who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs—tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh with a clutch run-scoring single up the middle.

But the Bulls responded immediately in the bottom half of the seventh, capitalizing on a faltering Columbia bullpen. With the bases loaded and the game in the balance, USF right fielder Gabe Graulau launched a bases-clearing, three-run triple to center field, blowing the doors open and giving South Florida an 8-4 lead.

Designated hitter Eli Thomas was an absolute force at the plate for the Bulls, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs.

Columbia’s Anthony Temesvary tried to mount a late rally with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, but USF tacked on two more runs on an RBI single by Jake Kulikowski and a fielder’s choice to put the game out of reach. Landon O’Donnell (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Bulls, while Columbia’s Baylor Hicks (0-1) was tabbed with the loss.

Game 2 Key Box Score Stats:

• USF: E. Thomas (3-for-4, 1 2B, 3 R, 2 RBIs); G. Graulau (1-for-4, 1 3B, 3 RBIs)
• COL: J. Kail (3-for-4, 2 RBIs); A. Temesvary (1 HR, 3 RBIs); T. Vogler (1 HR)