Tampa, Fla. (February 9, 2007) ? The University of South Florida baseball team pitched a shutout while smashing 14 hits to beat High Point University 14-0, Friday night at Red McEwen Field.
Senior pitcher Danny Otero started the year in the right direction, retiring the first three Panthers in the top of the first. In the bottom of the same inning with two outs, senior Ty Taborelli singled to right center, followed by a pair of walks from junior Joey Angelberger and sophomore Addison Maruszak. Junior Brandin Daniel singled to right center, knocking in the first two runs of the season.
After another short top of the inning, including a 5-4-3 double play, the Bulls posted three more runs to take the 5-0 lead. After senior Nick Cardieri singled, junior Dexter Butler was hit by a pitch and junior Josh LeRoy singled, bringing in Cardieri. Taborelli tagged his second hit of the game and collected an RBI in the inning.
High Point tallied two hits in the fourth, but the Bulls struck back scoring three runs off an Angelberger double to left field.
The sixth proved to be another exciting frame for USF as the Bulls ripped four hits and scored five runs. Junior Walter Diaz pulled a ball down the left field line for a double, then scored as Taborelli sliced a shot past the Panther first baseman. Daniel completed the double trifecta with a shot to left field, registering three RBI on the hit. Junior Brad Karns recorded an RBI of his own to push the score to 13-0 with three innings to go.
USF's final run of the game came in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore Mike Consolmagno singled, bringing Diaz across the plate.
Taborelli finished the first game of the season with three hits and three runs in three at bats, while tallying two RBI. Daniel tallied a team-high five RBI off of two hits, while Diaz scored three runs and crushed two hits.
Otero pitched seven innings for the Bulls, allowing six hits and no runs while striking out three of his 26 batters faced. Junior Ryan Lau came in for relief, striking out two batters in one inning of work. Senior Yuri Higgins closed out the final inning of the game with two strikeouts.
High Point's Eammon Portice pitched four innings for the Panthers, allowing eight runs on eight hits while striking out six.
The Bulls (1-0) and Panthers (2-2) return to the park again on Saturday, Feb. 10. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Red McEwen Field.
USF baseball game tickets can be purchased at the ballpark on game day or in advance by calling 1-800-GoBulls between 8 a.m. ? 6 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday. Adults can attend a single USF game this season for $5 while seniors (65-and-older) and children (12-and-younger) are $3. Groups of 10-or-more fans will be charged $2 per person. Children under the age of three attend Bulls games for free.
