DeLAND, Fla. (Sunday, Feb. 26) ? A five-run fourth inning by Stetson was the difference as the University of South Florida baseball team (4-6) fell to the Hatters (5-6), 7-2, on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Melching Field during the final day of the Stetson Invitational.

Joey Angelberger and Nick Cardieri both went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, leading USF to nine hits versus the Hatters. Angelberger, who hit .357 on the weekend, recorded his third RBI of the tournament during Sunday's outing. Cardieri recorded his fourth double while registering his team-best sixth RBI on the season.

Nick Manganaro made his second start of the season. The junior left-hander suffered the loss, allowing six runs on 10 hits in three and one-third innings of action. Yuri Higgins and Davis Bilardello came in for relief of Manganaro, allowing a combined one run on two hits while striking out four in four innings. Higgins, who was celebrating his birthday, struck out three in three and two-thirds of scoreless baseball.

Stetson's Corey Kluber was credited with the win, going seven innings while allowing no runs on six hits and striking out 10 USF batters.

Close through the first three innings, Stetson threatened in the bottom of the second producing runners on first and third and one outs. Manganaro got first baseman Chris Johnson to ground into a double play to end the inning and keep the score knotted at 0-0. The Hatters scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second on an-RBI single by Brandon Paritz. With the bases loaded, Paritz hit a single to left field, scoring the runner from third. Attempting to make the score 2-0, Stetson sent the runner on second home on the hit. However, Joey Angelberger threw him out from right field to end the inning.

Stetson gained a comfortable lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on six hits during the inning. The five-run fourth inning made the score 6-0 in favor of Stetson. The Hatters tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-0 lead, heading into the ninth inning.

USF rallied, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth. With runners on first and second, Cardieri crushed a double to right-center field, scoring James Rowe from second and giving the Bulls their first run of the contest. Angelberger added a second run later that inning, driving in Dexter Butler from third. The Bulls' rally fell short as USF lost its first contest of the Stetson Invitational, 7-2.

With the loss, USF finished the weekend 2-1.

USF will host the Illinois Fighting Illini in a three-game series March 3-5. The first game of the weekend series will take place on Friday, March 3. Game time is 7 p.m.