TAMPA, Fla. – Deon Stafford, Jr., hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season, but the Saint Joseph's baseball team ultimately fell to South Florida, 7-3, at the USF Baseball Stadium on Saturday night.

Stafford got things started right out of the gate for Saint Joseph's (3-3), taking USF starter Brandon Lawson deep with one out in the top of the first inning to put the Hawks on top, 1-0.

South Florida (6-4) answered in the bottom half, scoring four runs without a hit.  An error and a pair of hit batters loaded the bases for Chris Chatfield, who drew a walk to tie the game.  A sacrifice fly by Luke Maglich brought in another run before a two-base error on a ground ball by David Villar pushed the lead to 4-1.

The Bulls benefited from a single and an error in the second inning before Duke Stunkel groundout brought home Coco Montes to make it 5-1.  Maglich then drew a one-out walk in the third, stole second, and came in on a single by Villar to extend the Hawk deficit to five.

The Hawks hung a two-spot on the board in the sixth to get back into the game.  Stafford led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a single by John Brue.  Matt Maul followed with an RBI double to score Stafford and move Brue to third; two batters later, an RBI groundout from Marc Giacalone cut the South Florida lead to 6-3.

USF closed out the scoring with a singleton in the seventh as Stunkel walked, went to third on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Levi Borders.

Lawson earned the win for the Bulls, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out nine in six inning.  Ryan Otero took the loss for the Hawks after allowing five unearned runs on one hit in two innings.  Lucas Rollins turned in five innings of solid relief, holding USF to two runs, one earned, and two hits while fanning 10.

The Hawks will look to salvage the series finale on Sunday afternoon.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.