TAMPA, Fla. (April 15, 2006) ? A three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as the University of South Florida baseball team (17-20, 7-8 BIG EAST) fell, 5-4, to the Louisville Cardinals (16-20, 7-5 BIG EAST) in the final game of this weekend's three game series at Red McEwen Field. Despite the loss, USF won its second BIG EAST series of the season, taking the three-game set, 2-games-to-1.
Brandin Daniel produced two of the team's four runs, going 2-for-5 with two RBI on the day. Both Addison Maruszak and Kris Howell scored a run, batting 2-for-5 versus the Cardinals. Maruszak registered his 11th double of the season, while Howell, who recorded a hit in his seventh-straight game, notched two hits for the third time in the series.
Sophomore Davis Bilardello suffered his third loss of the season. The Vero Beach, Fla., native allowed four runs on five hits in three innings pitched. Bilardello struck out two batters, while giving up two base-on-balls. Right-hander Yuri Higgins came in for relief of Bilardello in top of the fourth, striking out four Louisville batters in three innings of action. Jim Cassidy closed out the game, throwing the final two innings of the contest. The Medway, Mass., native allowed no runs on just one hit in his 12th appearance of the season.
A sacrifice fly by Nick Haley in the top of the first gave Louisville an early 1-0 lead. USF responded with two runs during its half of the first to take a 2-1 lead. RBI-singles by Howell and Dexter Butler scored the Bulls' first runs of the game.
USF added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the second. Nick Cardieri scored on an errant throw by third baseman Casey Albanese. USF's Braulio Pardo attempted to advance Cardieri with a sacrifice bunt, however Albanese throw towards first sailed past first baseman Jorge Castillo, giving the USF second baseman an opportunity to cross home plate. The scored gave USF a 3-1 advantage.
Louisville regained the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits. The three-run inning gave Louisville a 4-3 lead.
The Cardinals added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI-fielder's choice by Chris Cates. USF answered in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run on an RBI-single by Daniel to right field, cutting Louisville's lead to 5-4.
Unable to score the tying run, USF lost its first game versus Louisville since the 2004 season, snapping a string of five-consecutive wins.
USF will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face the UCF Golden Knights on Tuesday, April 18. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.
Louisville 5, USF 4 (Apr 15, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
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Louisville.......... 100 301 000 - 5 11 3 (16-20, 7-5 BIG EAST)
USF................. 210 000 100 - 4 9 0 (17-20, 7-8 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: Louisville - Halford; Logsdon(6); Bailey(7). USF - BILARDELLO; HIGGINS(4); CASSIDY(8)
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Win-Halford(3-1) Save-Bailey(2) Loss-BILARDELLO(1-3) T-3:01 A-490
Game notes:
UofL Head Coach Lelo Prado was ejected in the top of the 4th
UofL Assistant Coach James McAuley was ejected in the top of the 3rd
BILARDELLO faced 4 batters in the 4th.
