USF Travels To Atlanta To Face Nationally-Ranked Georgia Tech This Weekend
May 04, 2006 | Baseball
TAMPA, Fla. (May 4, 2006) ? The University of South Florida baseball team (20-25, 9-12 BIG EAST) will take a break from BIG EAST action to play a three-game series versus the No. 16-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (33-12, 14-10 ACC) beginning Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m.
The Bulls are looking to snap a current two-game skid, following a series loss to Georgetown last weekend. USF enters this weekend's series batting .281 with 24 home runs and 218 RBI. Leading the way, offensively, for USF is senior Kris Howell, who is batting .341. The Bulls' left fielder has scored 27 runs while driving in 19. Senior Brian Baisley is hitting .311 with four home runs and 23 RBI this season. Baisley is tied for the team lead in home runs and is posting a .508 slugging percentage. Freshman Addison Maruszak leads USF in doubles with 13. The USF shortstop is batting .310 with one home run and 22 RBI.
USF's bullpen enters its series with Georgia Tech holding a 4.66 ERA. The Bulls have struck out 372 batters in 413 and two-thirds innings pitched. Junior Casey Hudspeth, who leads the conference in strikeouts (82), will get the start on Friday. Hudspeth has posted a 5-5 record with a 4.64 ERA in 2006. Taking the mound for USF on Saturday will be right-hander Daniel Thomas. The Tampa native has registered a 2-4 record with a 4.19 ERA, striking out 59 batters this season. Sophomore Davis Bilardello is expected to make his 12 start on Sunday. The Vero Beach, Fla., native will be looking for his second win of the season.
Friday's game will mark the fifth meeting all-time between USF and Georgia Tech with the Yellow Jackets holding a 3-1 edge in the series history.
