MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 18, 2006) ? A strong outing by junior Casey Hudspeth helped guide the University of South Florida (22-32, 11-14 BIG EAST) one step closer to clinching a spot in the 2006 BIG EAST Championship with an 8-1 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers (34-19, 13-12 BIG EAST) on Thursday, May 18 at Hawley Field. Hudspeth struck out six batters on the night while USF's offense, which registered 10 hits, was led by home runs by sophomore Joey Angelberger (a three-run hot) and senior Brian Baisley (a solo home run).

Angelberger went 2-for-2, including a home run and a double, scoring two runs and tying a career-high with five RBI. The Dunedin, Fla., native reached base safely in each of his five plate appearances, drawing three walks on the night. Baisley crushed his sixth home run of the season with a solo shot in the top of the third. The hit, which left the park in a hurry, was Baisley's second home run in as many games. The Land O'Lakes, Fla., native went 1-for-4 with two walks, scoring three runs and driving one in versus West Virginia.

Making his 15th start of the season, Hudspeth, allowed no runs on just four hits in six innings of action. With six strikeouts on the evening, Hudspeth became the ninth player in USF history to register 100-or-more Ks for a career. The Sarasota, Fla., native increased his season total to 103. The win marked the seventh of the season for Hudspeth of 2006.

Sophomore Ryan Lau was credited with his first-career save, pitching in three innings of relief versus the Mountaineers. The 6-foot-4 right-hander struck out two hitters, while allowing four hits to close out the game.

USF's pitching staff held the nation's second-best hitting team to just eight hits (scattered over nine innings) and allowed just one run (unearned).

The win marks the first-ever victory for USF over West Virginia.
 
USF continue its three-game series with West Virginia on Friday, May 19. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

USF 8, West Virginia 1 (May 18, 2006 at Morgantown, W.Va.)
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USF................. 031 300 010  -  8 10  1      (22-32, 11-14 BIG EAST)
West Virginia....... 000 000 001  -  1  8  1      (34-19, 13-12 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: USF - HUDSPETH; LAU(7). West Virginia - STUPKA; BERGERSON(6).
Win-HUDSPETH(7-6)  Save-LAU(1)  Loss-STUPKA(3-3)  T-2:35  A-175
HR USF - B. BAISLEY (6); ANGELBERGER (5).