CLEARWATER, Florida – Jack Jasiak’s stellar pitching performance propelled South Florida to a 5-0 win over Tulane, advancing the Bulls to the semifinals of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
Jasiak (6-7) was one out away from the first 9-inning complete game shutout in championship history, striking out a tournament-record 12 batters with only two hits allowed in 8.2 innings of work. The redshirt freshman allowed one base runner in each of the first three innings, but then retired 19 batters in a row. Orion Kerkering came on for the final out and finished the game with a 4-pitch strikeout.
With the win, South Florida advances to the semifinals on Saturday, May 29 and will face the winner of Tulane and Wichita State. The Green Wave and Shockers play in the second game on Friday, May 28.
Jack Aldrich (5-3) took the loss for the Green Wave, allowing three runs in 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third Carmine Lane singled to open the inning and two batters later, Roberto Pena hit his 12th home run of the season to give the Bulls the lead.
South Florida added another run in the fifth when Jake Sullivan singled home Jarrett Eaton. The Bulls added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth, as Nelson Rivera’s RBI single scored Daniel Cantu before Matt Ruiz scored on a Green Wave error.
Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 25 | ESPN+
Game 1: No. 5 UCF 14, No. 4 Cincinnati 10
Game 2: No. 8 Memphis 11, No. 1 East Carolina 1 (7 innings)
Game 3: No. 2 Tulane 4, No. 7 Houston 1
Game 4: No. 6 South Florida 7, No. 3 Wichita State 2
Wednesday, May 26 | ESPN+
Game 5: East Carolina 13, Cincinnati 9 (Cincinnati eliminated)
Game 6: Wichita State 5, Houston 3 (Houston eliminated)
Thursday, May 27 | ESPN+
Game 7: UCF 17, Memphis 1 (7 innings)
Game 8: South Florida 5, Tulane 0
Friday, May 28 | ESPN+
Game 9: Memphis vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m.
Game 10: Wichita State vs. Tulane | 47 minutes following Game 9
Saturday, May 29 | ESPN+
Game 11: UCF vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m.
Game 12: South Florida vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes following Game 11
Game 13 (if necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD
Game 14 (if necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD
Sunday, May 30 | ESPNews
Game 15: Semifinal winners | Noon
All times Eastern
