TAMPA, Fla. (Friday, March 24) ? Casey Hudspeth struck out a career-high 12 batters in seven innings of action en route to his third win of the season as the University of South Florida baseball team (12-11, 3-1 BIG EAST) defeated the Seton Hall Pirates (6-13, 1-3 BIG EAST), 2-1, on Friday, March 24 at Red McEwen Field. In all, the Bulls fanned 17 Pirate hitters to claim their third conference win of the season.

The USF pitching staff (Hudspeth, Raymon Garcia and Chase Lirette) held Seton Hall's offense off-balance, allowing just eight hits on the night. In his seventh start of the season, Hudspeth had command of his pitches, striking out six batters through the first two innings. Of the 109 pitches thrown by the Sarasota, Fla., native, 75 resulted in strikes. Garcia pitched just two-thirds of an inning but, recorded two Ks in relief. Lirette ? USF's closer ? struck out three in one and one-third innings of relief to earn his third save of the season.

Leading the way for USF offensively was first baseman Brandin Daniel, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI, extending his season-best hitting streak to nine games. Junior Ty Taborelli went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored to increase his consecutive hit streak to 12 games. Senior Kris Howell, who scored the Bulls first run of the night, went 1-for-3 versus the Pirates.

Seton Hall's Dan McDonald lasted seven and one-third innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five USF batters. Credited with his fifth loss of the season, McDonald also drove in the Pirates lone run of the contest.

The Bulls took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI-single by Daniel. With Howell in scoring position, Daniel sent a single through the right side of the infield, scoring the USF senior from second.

USF added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Taborelli, who reached second on a double to left-center field, scored on a throwing error as McDonald tried to throw out Addison Maruszak on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The run gave USF a 2-0 advantage.

Seton Hall got on the board in the top of the sixth as McDonald drove in Dan Lopez on a ground out to the first baseman. However, the one run was all that the Pirates would score as USF won its third-straight game, 2-1.

The win marked USF's first-ever over Seton Hall in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Game Two of this weekend's three-game series with the Pirates will take place on Saturday, March 25. On the mound for the Bulls will be sophomore Daniel Thomas. Seton Hall's Corey Young is slated to get the start for the Pirates. First pitch is 1 p.m.

USF 2, Seton Hall 1 (Mar 24, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
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Seton Hall.......... 000 001 000 - 1 8 1 (6-13, 1-3 BIG EAST)
USF................. 101 000 00X - 2 6 2 (12-11, 3-1 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: Seton Hall - MCDONALD, D.; CANTWELL, K.(8). USF - HUDSPETH; GARCIA(8); LIRETTE(8).
Win-HUDSPETH(3-2) Save-LIRETTE(3) Loss-MCDONALD, D.(0-5) T-2:55 A-171