PORT CHARLOTTE -- In order to become the best, you have to play the best.

For the first time since 2000, USF had a big-league chance against the Rays.

“Coming into it, I try to treat it just like another game, but arriving here and realizing that these are some big league guys,” said USF outfielder Kyle Phillips.

And the Rays didn’t take it easy on them – putting reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on the mound.

“He was literally the best in the world at what he did so as a competitor, I’m excited to face him see what I can do,” Phillips said.

USF rose to the occasion. Joe Genord took Snell’s fastball for a ride with a ground-rule double in the first.

“Big dude, big name obviously you know,” Genord said. “Just being able to do that off of him — it was a great experience.”

But it’s not just about the talent, one thing that USF valued the most about this experience is playing at a major league spring training facility.

“It puts it more into perspective,” Phillips said. “You’re in where the professionals are so it makes it a little different for you. “

What also puts it into perspective is seeing a few former Bulls now wearing a Rays uniform. Including Brandon Lawson and Phoenix Sanders, who took the mound against their former team.

“I think it brings us into a bigger spotlight,” Genord said. “Seeing that we’ve got guys in the pros and in big league spring training --  I think it helps our program a lot.

Rays manager Kevin Cash knows first-hand the value of the experience.

“I remember years ago -- maybe 1998 that Florida State played the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the time at Al Lang — that was pretty exciting to get to do that at Al Lang,” Cash recounted of his college playing days.

For USF players, it’s a chance to see how it feels to be a part of Major League Baseball.

“The challenge, I think that’s the most motivating thing,” Phillips said. “Facing these guys and now, this is what I want to do as a career so facing them, if I compete with them, then it’s something I can do in the future.”

For some, it’s only a day, but for others, it could be just the beginning.