TAMPA, Fla. (Saturday, Feb. 11) ? In a contest which lasted over five hours (including a 1:15-minute rain delay) and 13 innings, the University of South Florida baseball team (1-1) fell to Northwestern (1-1), 2-0, at Red McEwen Field on Saturday, Feb. 11. Two runs in the top of the 13th for the Wildcats resulted in the Bulls' first loss of the 2006 season. Both teams combined for 12 hits and 26 strikeouts in the five-hour marathon.

USF's pitching staff allowed just seven hits while striking out 15 Northwestern batters on the afternoon. Sophomore Daniel Thomas made his first start of the season, recording five strikeouts while allowing just three hits in six innings of action. The right-hander pitched six innings of shutout baseball before being relieved by left-hander Davis Bilardello, who threw two solid innings. The Vero Beach, Fla., native allowed no runs on two hits while striking out three to keep Northwestern off the board. Sophomore James Rowe, who was celebrating his 20th birthday, pitched one and two-thirds innings of relief, giving up no runs on no hits while notching two Ks in the contest. Junior Chase Lirette, who registered a save in the Bulls' previous contest versus the Wildcats (Friday, Feb. 10), allowed just one hit in two and one-third innings while striking out four batters. Sophomore Ryan Lau (0-1), who was credited with the loss, struck out one hitter but gave up two runs on one hit in the final inning of the contest.

USF had its chances to score first. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulls had bases loaded with only one out. However, Northwestern pitcher Dan Brauer got freshman Braulio Pardo to ground into a double play to end the threat. The Bulls again had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth with shortstop Addison Maruszak on third and one out. Brauer got the Wildcats out of another jam by retiring the next two USF batters to end the inning.

Brauer, who missed the entire 2005 season due to an injury, allowed only one hit in five innings of action, striking out eight Bulls and walking five.

Following a 1:15 rain delay in the middle of the sixth play resumed. Neither team was able to muster much offense as a total of five hits (four by USF, one by Northwestern) were tallied from the sixth thru 12th innings. Northwestern threatened to score the first runs of the contest in the top of the 11th. With runners on second and third and two outs and a 3-2 count, USF's Lirette got freshman Geoff Dietz to chase a high fast ball and send the game to the bottom of the 11th.

Northwestern scored the first and only runs of the contest in the top of the 13th. Lead-off hitter Antonio Mule hit a double to centerfield, giving the Wildcats a runner in scoring position with no outs. Pinch runner (for Mule) Aaron Newman advanced to third on a wild pitch by Lau (his first of two during the inning). Following a strikeout of Max Mann, Wildcat first baseman Stanley Finch drove in Newman, who beat out a play at the plate to make the score 1-0. Two batters later with runners on second and third, Dietz successfully executed a suicide squeeze, scoring Finch from third. The run gave Northwestern a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 13th.

USF was unable to produce any runs in the bottom of the 13th inning, resulting in the Bulls' first loss of the series.

Two USF hitters registered multiple-hit games in the contest - senior Kris Howell (2-for-6) and Maruszak (2-for-4).

With the loss, USF moves to 1-1 on the year. The loss also mark the Bulls' first-ever defeat at the hands of the Wildcats (3-1 all-time).

Game three of this weekend's series between USF and Northwestern will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12. On the mound for USF will be junior Nick Manganaro. The Wildcats are scheduled to throw junior Ryan Myers. First pitch for the series' “rubber match” is slated for 12 p.m.

Northwestern 2, USF 0 (Feb 11, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
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Northwestern........ 000 000 000 000 2 - 2 7 2 (1-1)
USF.................     000 000 000 000 0 - 0 5 0 (1-1)
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Pitchers: Northwestern - Brauer; Smith(6); Schwartz(11). USF - Thomas; Bilardello(7); Rowe(9);
Lirette(10); Lau(13).
Win-Schwartz(1-0) Loss-Lau(0-1) T-5:08 A-486
Game notes:
1:15 rain delay in the middle of the 6th inning