DeLAND, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2007) ? After taking the early 1-0 lead, the University of South Florida baseball team gave up nine runs over the next six innings to Stetson, then made a three-run rally late in the game, but could not overcome the entire deficit, dropping their first game of the season, 9-4, in DeLand, Fla., Tuesday night.
Junior left-handed starter James Rowe (0-1), who started the first game of his career tonight against the Hatters, was tagged with his fourth-career loss in 40 appearances. Sophomore third baseman Addison Maruszak was 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one walk, while junior shortstop Walter Diaz went 3-for-5 with one run scored for the 6-1 Bulls.
USF scored in the first inning for just the third time this season as leadoff batter Diaz cracked a shot to the right side for his 12th base hit of the season. Junior Dexter Butler reached on a Stetson error, pushing Diaz into scoring position. Sophomore third baseman Maruszak placed a hit up the middle to score Diaz, the first USF run of the game.
In the second, the Hatters took a 5-1 lead after loading the bases with just one out, then crushing a double down the right field line to clear the bases. Two more Hatter hits produced a pair of runs as Stetson took the early four-run lead in the game.
After recording one strikeout with no hits and no runs scored in the first, Rowe allowed five runs on five hits in the second, giving way to junior RHP Ryan Lau in the third.
Lau pitched two innings, giving up three runs on three hits before being replaced by freshman right-hander Shawn Sanford.
Prior to the Stetson game, Sanford had made two appearances, notching three strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. Against the Hatters, Sanford struck out two and allowed just one hit in two innings on the mound.
In the top of the sixth inning the Bulls threatened to score with back-to-back base hits from Maruszak and junior first baseman Brandin Daniel. But with two runners on, the Bulls hit into a double play to end the inning with no runs scored, and still trailing by seven.
After the Hatters added their ninth run to the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh, USF collected a pair of base runners as senior outfielder Ty Taborelli drew a walk and Maruszak dropped a base hit in front of the right fielder with no outs in the inning. Both players moved into scoring position following a passed ball to junior designated hitter Charles Cleveland, who proceeded to smash a sacrifice fly to right field, earning an RBI as Taborelli scored.
After freshman right hander Matt Quevedo pitched the seventh, junior left-handed pitcher Davis Bilardello took over pitching duties in the bottom of the eighth, the fifth USF pitcher of the game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Bilardello forced the Hatters to fly out to right field, bringing the Bulls to the plate for the final time.
Junior pinch hitter Josh LeRoy and Diaz blistered consecutive base hits, then Taborelli poked a shot over the Hatter infield to score USF's third run of the non-conference game. Maruszak and Daniel drew back-to-back walks, scoring USF's fourth run.
Down by five runs with bases loaded, USF was unable to tag another hit, ending the game 9-4 in favor of the Hatters.
USF next hosts Manhattan College (N.Y.) on Feb. 23-25 at Red McEwen Field. The Bulls and Jaspers take the field at 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, then return at noon on Sunday for the final game of the series.
