PITTSBURGH, Pa. (April 22, 2006) ? A grand slam by pinch hitter Brad Karns led the University of South Florida baseball team (19-21, 8-9 BIG EAST) to 5-3 win in game two of a doubleheader versus the Pittsburgh Panthers (16-21, 5-12 BIG EAST) on Saturday, April 22 at Trees Field. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded, Karns crushed the first pitch he faced over the wall in left-center field to give the Bulls their first lead of the day versus the Panthers. Earlier in the day, USF dropped game one of the weekend series, 7-1.
Karns, who registered his first-career grand slam, notched his first home run of the season. Joey Angelberger led all USF hitters, batting 2-for-3 with a run scored versus the Panthers. Relief pitcher Nick Manganaro earned his third win of the season, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one in one and two-thirds of action. Closer Chase Lirette picked up his sixth save of the season striking out one Panther batter in two-thirds of an inning pitched. Starter Daniel Thomas pitched a strong six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine batters.
Down by two-runs, heading into the top of the ninth, USF loaded the bases with no outs. Freshman Gus Fernandez drew a walk to bring in the Bulls' first run of the contest. During the next at-bat, Karns, who pinch hit for catcher Braulio Pardo, drove in four runs with one swing, giving USF the lead. 5-2. Pittsburgh scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, however Lirette came in a shut down the Pittsburgh, earning USF a split of the weekend series, 1-1.
Earlier in the day, USF fell to Pittsburgh, 7-1. Freshman Addison Maruszak hit a team-best 2-for-3 against the Panthers. Junior Casey Hudspeth suffered his fifth loss of the season, striking out six batters in five innings pitched.
USF will close out its series with the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday, April 23. With the series tied at 1-all, the game will mark the deciding contest of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
Pittsburgh Panthers 7, South Florida 1 (Apr 22, 2006 at Pittsburgh, PA) (Game 1)
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South Florida....... 000 000 001 - 1 4 3 (18-21, 7-9 BIG EAST)
Pittsburgh Panthers. 102 021 100 - 7 12 2 (16-20, 5-11 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: South Florida - HUDSPETH; CASSIDY(6). Pittsburgh Panthers - MULDOWNEY,Bi; LANDIS(8).
Win-MULDOWNEY,Bi(4-3) Loss-HUDSPETH(4-5) T-3:09 A-114
South Florida 5, Pittsburgh Panthers 3 (Apr 22, 2006 at Pittsburgh, PA) (Game 2)
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South Florida....... 000 000 005 0 - 5 6 1 (19-21, 8-9 BIG EAST)
Pittsburgh Panthers. 100 000 101 X - 3 7 0 (16-21, 5-12 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: South Florida - THOMAS; MANGANARO(7); LIRETTE(9). Pittsburgh Panthers - BRANT;
CICATELLO(8); BASSAGE(9); PARISE(9).
Win-MANGANARO(3-2) Save-LIRETTE(6) Loss-BASSAGE(0-2) T-3:10 A-105
HR USF - KARNS (1).
CICATELLO faced 2 batters in the 9th.
BASSAGE faced 2 batters in the 9th.
