By KY-SHON HEPBURN

Special to GoUSFBulls.com

TAMPA - The Bulls were unable to get the season split against UCF on Tuesday night.

USF (14-8, 0-0) fell to UCF, 6-2, before a crowd of 1,118 at USF baseball complex. 

Jimmy Falla put the Bulls on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fourth inning.  The first baseman hit a solo shot down the left field line to give the Bulls an early 1-0 lead.

The Knights responded in the top of the fifth inning on a base clearing double by Ronnie Richardson to give UCF a 3-1 lead.

UCF added another run in the top of the sixth inning on a wild pitch that scored Alex Friedrich and extended their lead to 4-1. 

Starting Pitcher Derrick Stultz pitched 6.2 innings allowing three hits, two walks and six strikeouts.  

D.J. Hicks kept things rolling for the Knights in the seventh inning on a single with bases loaded to bring home two more runs and give UCF a 6-1 advantage.  

Steven Leasure came in to relieve Stultz in the seventh inning.  The junior pitched 1.1 innings allowing one hit, one walk, one strikeout and no runs. 

Lefthander Kyle Parker relieved Leasure.  Parker picked up two outs and Ray Delphey came in to close the game.  Both relievers combined for one hit, one strikeout and no runs. 

The Bulls threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning. Matt Hart hit a sacrifice fly to score Alex Mendez and cut UCF's lead to 6-2, but the Bulls were unable to score any more runs. 

The Bulls will host Big East opponent Georgetown for the first game of a three-game series at 7 p.m. on Friday at USF baseball complex.