TAMPA, Fla. (Tuesday, Feb. 21) ? North Florida's Jimmy Glanville scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to hand the University of South Florida (2-5) it's fourth-straight loss, as the Bulls fell, 6-5, to the Ospreys (6-3) on Tuesday evening at Red McEwen Field. Defensive miscues led to a four-run deficit early in the contest, but the Bulls battled back to pull even with North Florida, heading into the ninth inning.

The Bulls rattled off 11 hits on the night, including Kris Howell, who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored. The four hits tied a career-high for the Tierra Verde, Fla., native, who also extended his current hitting streak to six games (tying his career-best). Sophomore Joey Angelberger registered his first multiple-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Angelberger's double in the sixth inning pulled USF within one run of the Ospreys. Senior Brian Baisley went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI on the night. Baisley's double in the bottom of the seventh drew the contest even. All five of USF's runs on the evening were scored with two outs.

Junior Yuri Higgins was credited with the loss, allowing the go-ahead run on two hits while striking out three in two and one-third innings in relief. Sophomore Davis Bilardello got the start, but registered a “no decision”, giving up four runs on six hits and striking out five North Florida hitters.

“It's the little things that make the big things happen and we are not doing the little things well,” said Head Coach Eddie Cardieri. “There were situation where they (North Florida) are trying to bunt a guy over ? instead we walk him over and now they can bunt two guys over. We wild pitch a guy over when they are trying to bunt him over. Just little things like that. Things that we do in practice all of the time, once the game starts, they don't do like we practice. This is a young club and this is a learning process. We are so close ? not only to winning this game, but other games. We aren't running on all cylinders, but we are close.”

North Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Ospreys scored their first run of the night on throwing error by catcher Braulio Pardo, attempting to throw out Brett Maloley at first base. The throw hit Maloley in the back, allowing Damon Olinto to score from third. UNF added a run later that inning on an RBI-single by Brandon Diaz. North Florida scored a run in the top of the second with a solo home run by Grant Rogers to give the Ospreys a 3-0 lead. The score became 4-0 in the top of the third on an RBI-single by Rogers to left field.

USF got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI-double by Nick Cardieri. With two outs and Kris Howell on second base, Cardieri sent the first pitch he faced over the center fielder's head. The hit made the score 4-1. Two batters, with the bases loaded, later Angelberger drove a shot down the left-field line, scoring two runs to make the score 4-3.

Relief pitcher Raymon Garcia came in for Bilardello in the top of the seventh. However, the Miami, Fla., native loaded the bases on a double and two consecutive base-on-balls. North Florida took advantage of the runners in scoring position, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. Higgins came in for Garcia, getting USF out the jam by striking out the final two Osprey batters.

USF rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on a double by Baisley, who took a 1-0 pitch to right-center field, scoring Howell from first base. During that same play, Baisley came home on a fielding error by shortstop Andy Warren to tie the game at 5-all.

Defensively, USF came up big, in the top of the eighth. With runners on second and third and one out, Higgins got Brennan Grogan to ground out to Butler. Andrew Chapman, who was on second, was thrown out by Baisley to complete the double play.

An RBI-single by Glanville gave UNF the lead in the top of the ninth.

The Bulls were unable to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, leading to the team's fourth-straight loss.

USF will travel to DeLand, Fla., to take part in the Stetson Invitational Feb. 24-26. Participating in the round-robin tournament will be USF, Western Carolina, Illinois and host-institution Stetson. The Bulls' first opponent will be the Western Carolina Catamounts on Friday, Feb. 24. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.


North Florida 6, USF 5 (Feb 21, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
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North Florida....... 211 000 101 - 6 10 1 (6-3)
USF................. 000 003 200 - 5 11 4 (2-5)
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Pitchers: North Florida - JOHNSON; RAIFORD(6); PAPELBON, Jo(8). USF - BILARDELLO; GARCIA(7); HIGGINS(7); MANGANARO(9); LIRETTE(9).
Win-PAPELBON, Jo(2-0) Loss-HIGGINS(0-1) T-3:12 A-242
HR UNF - ROGERS (2).
GARCIA faced 3 batters in the 7th.
MANGANARO faced 1 batter in the 9th.