CINCINNATI, Ohio (Sunday, April 2) ? A walk-off RBI-single by Cincinnati's Mark Muscenti handed the University of South Florida baseball team (14-15, 5-4 BIG EAST) an 11-10 loss to the Bearcats (16-10, 3-3 BIG EAST) on Sunday, April 2 at the UC Baseball Stadium. Despite a 4-for-5 performance by sophomore Brandin Daniel, who hit two home runs and drove in six runs, the Bulls suffered their fourth-straight loss as well as a series sweep at the hands of the Bearcats.
In a seesaw battled which saw the lead change seven times, USF notched 11 hits on the afternoon. Daniel led all USF hitters with career-highs in hits (4), home runs (2) and RBI (6). Junior Nick Cardieri went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. The Tampa, Fla., native crushed his first home run of the season with a blast over the fence in right-center field in the top of the sixth. Senior Kris Howell crossed home plate a team-high three times, going 2-for-4 versus the Bearcats.
Closer Chase Lirette was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in one and two-thirds inning of relief. Starter Davis Bilardello lasted four innings, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out two. Yuri Higgins came in for relief of Bilardello, striking out two in three innings of action. Matt Ingram faced two batters in the bottom of the eighth before Lirette was called on from the bullpen.
USF held a 10-8 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Lirette allowed five consecutive hits, leading to the game-winning single up the middle of the infield by Muscenti.
The loss marked the first time USF had been swept in a three-game series by the Bearcats.
USF will host the UCF Knights on Tuesday, April 4. Game time is 7 p.m.
Cincinnati 11, USF 10 (Apr 02, 2006 at Cincinnati, Ohio)
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USF................. 100 231 120 - 10 11 2 (14-15, 5-4 BIG EAST)
Cincinnati.......... 020 300 303 - 11 18 1 (16-10, 3-3 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: USF - BILARDELLO; HIGGINS(5); INGRAM(8); LIRETTE(8). Cincinnati - Osterbrock;
Heber(5); Calez(7); Nelson(8).
Win-Nelson(2-1) Loss-LIRETTE(1-2) T-3:19 A-244
HR USF - DANIEL 2 (3); N. CARDIERI (1).
HR CIN - Hayes.
BILARDELLO faced 1 batter in the 5th.
Calez faced 2 batters in the 8th.
INGRAM faced 2 batters in the 8th.
