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USF’s McClanahan finally allows an earned run…and then some

The redshirt sophomore left-hander gave up two home runs in the second inning Friday
 
USF left-hander Shane McClanahan went 31.2 innings without surrendering an earned run this season. (JOEY KNIGHT | Times)
USF left-hander Shane McClanahan went 31.2 innings without surrendering an earned run this season. (JOEY KNIGHT | Times)
Published March 24, 2018|Updated March 24, 2018

TAMPA — One of the most improbable streaks in USF baseball history was snapped Friday evening.

Or more specifically, crushed.

Bulls left-handed ace Shane McClanahan, who hadn't allowed an earned run in 31 2/3 innings this season, got a rude return to mortality in the second inning of Friday's 6-4 loss to Connecticut.

After McClanahan struck out two of the three batters he faced in the first, cleanup hitter Isaac Feldstein sent his 3-2 pitch well beyond the left field fence to open the second.

Then the Huskies really made McClanahan look human.

After allowing two more hits (including an RBI-single) and walking UConn's No. 8 and 9 hitters, the redshirt sophomore with the high-90s fastball surrendered a grand slam to leadoff man Anthony Prato. By inning's end, McClanahan had allowed six hits on five runs and three walks.

He worked two more scoreless innings before exiting, but the ghastly second inning pushed his ERA for the season to 1.56.

Related: USF's McClanahan, Ragsdale combine to no-hit Army

"It wasn't the Shane we were used to seeing," Bulls first-year coach Billy Mohl said.

"He had the adrenaline going a little too much. He had the foot on the gas the whole time, and in this league you've got to throw something else besides the fastball."

Widely projected as a top-10 overall pick in this summer's big-league draft, McClanahan's 31 2/3 consecutive innings of no earned runs is believed to be the longest such streak in Bulls history.