TAMPA, Fla. (Saturday, March 4) ? The University of South Florida baseball team (4-8) lost its second game of a three-game series with the University of Illinois (2-3), falling to the Fighting Illini, 7-3, on Saturday, March 4 at Red McEwen Field. Junior Ty Taborelli's 2-for-3 performance led USF's offense which produced three runs on seven hits.

Taborelli scored one run and drove in another while senior Kris Howell went 1-for-2 and reached base twice with base-on-balls versus the Illini. Howell tabbed an RBI in the contest for his fourth of the season. Freshmen Gus Fernandez and Braulio Pardo each scored a run in the game. Fernandez went 1-for-4, including his first-career double. Pardo hit 1-for-3 with a stolen base.

Sophomore Daniel Thomas was credited with the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in four and two-thirds innings versus Illinois. USF's bullpen (Yuri Higgins, Ryan Lau, Matt Ingram and James Rowe) combined for four and one-third innings, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out five Illini batters. For Ingram, it was his 69th-career appearance in relief (sixth all-time in USF history).

USF scored the first run of the game with an RBI-single by Howell in the bottom of the third. Fernandez, who reached third following a lead-off double and a sacrifice bunt by Taborelli, scored on the Howell single to center field.

Illinois scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. An RBI-triple by Ryan Hastings tied the scored at 1-all. Third baseman Mike Rhode drove in the go-ahead run with a single to short, scoring Hastings from third.

The Bulls tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. A single by Taborelli to right field scored Pardo from second base.

Illinois regained the lead with a three-run inning in the top of the fourth. The Fighting Illini scored three runs on three hit and one USF error. The score became 7-2 in favor of Illinois following a two-run fifth inning.

Taborelli scored the Bulls' third run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. The junior outfielder reached base with a lead-off double. His third double of the season. Advancing to third on a wild pitch, Taborelli came home on a ground out by Brian Baisley.

Unable to overcome the remaining four-run deficit, USF lost its third-straight contest.

USF will close out its three-game series with Illinois on Sunday, March 5. On the mound for the Bulls will be sophomore Davis Bilardello. Throwing for Illinois will be freshman Scott Shaw. First pitch is slated for Noon.