TAMPA, Fla. (Saturday, March 25) ? Matt McHargue's two-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth gave the University of South Florida baseball team (13-11, 4-1 BIG EAST) a 3-1 victory over the Seton Hall Pirates (6-14, 1-4 BIG EAST) on Saturday, March 25 at Red McEwen Field. The win secured a series win over Seton Hall and was USF's third-straight conference victory.

McHargue, who pinch hit for catcher Brad Karns, took a 3-0 pitch over the fence in right-center field in the bottom of the ninth for his first home run of the season. With the score tied at 1-1 and Brandin Daniel on second, the homer drove in two runs, giving USF its fourth victory on its final plate appearance in the team's last six games. Daniel, who batted 2-for-4, including a double, scored the game-winning on the McHargue blast. Senior Brian Baisley drove in a run, going 1-for-4 versus the Pirates. Junior Ty Taborelli continued to make contact, registering a hit in his 13th-consecutive game (a career-best). Freshman Addison Maruszak hit his second-career triple during the contest, going 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Reliever Jim Cassidy picked up his second win of the season, coming out of the bullpen in the top of the ninth. The Medway, Mass., native allowed no runs on two hits to keep the game even heading into the bottom of the ninth. Right-hander Daniel Thomas made his seventh start of the season, pitching seven shutout innings while scattering six hits on the afternoon. The Tampa, Fla., native recorded a career-high nine strikeouts while giving up just three walks versus Seton Hall. Nick Manganaro and Chase Lirette combined for an inning of middle relief, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one.

Seton Hall freshman Corey Young had a solid outing, striking out 10 USF batters in six and two-thirds innings but, earned a “no decision”. Right-hander Keith Cantwell was saddled with the loss, allowing McHargue's home run in the bottom of the ninth. The Seton Hall pitcher threw one-third of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits in his second loss of the season.

USF scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a RBI-single to right field by Baisley. Maruszak, who tripled his first time up, scored on single by Baisley, giving USF the early 1-0 advantage. The run would be the only one scored until the top of the eight as both teams' pitchers got their respective squads out of a number of jams.

Seton Hall stranded 13 runners on the afternoon, including two in the top of the fifth. With no outs and runners on first and third, Thomas struck out Brandon Cohen, then got Mark Pappas to foul out to first base. Karns threw out Matt Smedberg for the final out of the inning, keeping USF ahead by one.

Seton Hall tied the game in the top of the eighth on an RBI-single up the middle of the infield Robbie Hine, scoring Casey Himes from second. The Pirates threatened to take the lead in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with just one out. However, Cassidy got the next two Seton Hall batters to ground out and end the inning.

With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth and one out, Daniel doubled down the right-field line to move into scoring position. McHargue was called on to pinch hit and blasted a two-run shot, ending the game, 3-1.

The win marks the fourth-straight for USF and puts the Bulls in position for their first-ever series sweep of a BIG EAST opponent.

Game Three of this weekend's three-game series with the Pirates will take place on Sunday, March 26. On the mound for the Bulls will be sophomore Davis Bilardello. Seton Hall's Dan Merklinger is slated to get the start for the Pirates. First pitch is 12 p.m.

USF 3, Seton Hall 1 (Mar 25, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
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Seton Hall.......... 000 000 010 - 1 9 1 (6-14, 1-4 BIG EAST)
USF................. 100 000 002 - 3 8 0 (13-11, 4-1 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: Seton Hall - YOUNG, C.; CUNNINGHAM(7); CANTWELL, K.(9). USF - THOMAS; MANGANARO(8);
LIRETTE(8); CASSIDY(9).
Win-CASSIDY(2-0) Loss-CANTWELL, K.(1-2) T-3:02 A-243
HR USF - McHARGUE (2).