TAMPA, Fla. (April 7, 2006) ? The University of South Florida baseball team (14-17, 5-5 BIG EAST) dropped its sixth-straight game with a 9-6 loss to Notre Dame (20-8, 6-1 BIG EAST) during the first game of a three-game conference series between the two teams on Friday, April 7 at Red McEwen Field.

Seniors Kris Howell and Matt McHargue each hit 2-for-4 on the night. Howell drove in a run and scored another while McHargue scored a run and registered his first triple of the year. Freshman Addison Maruszak went 2-for-5, including a double, an RBI and a run scored versus the Irish. Although not registering a hit on the night, junior Ty Taborelli crossed home plate twice for the Bulls.

 Junior Casey Hudspeth suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits while striking out three Notre Dame batters. Sophomore Ryan Lau pitched four innings of relief, giving up two runs on six hits versus Notre Dame. 

The loss also marked the Bulls' fourth-consecutive conference defeat.
 
USF will continue its three-game set with the Fighting Irish on Saturday, April 8. On the mound for USF will be sophomore Daniel Thomas. Getting the start for Notre Dame will be Tom Thornton. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notre Dame 9, USF 6 (Apr 07, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notre Dame.......... 302 201 100  -  9 15  1      (20-8, 6-1 BIG EAST)
USF................. 301 002 000  -  6  9  3      (14-17, 5-5 BIG EAST)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Notre Dame - J Samardzija; Jess Stewart(6); Mike Dury(6); Kyle Weiland(9). USF -
HUDSPETH; LAU(6).
Win-J Samardzija(4-1)  Save-Kyle Weiland(9)  Loss-HUDSPETH(3-4)  T-2:59  A-1011
HR ND - Craig Cooper (3).