TAMPA, Fla. (March 17, 2007) ? Two home runs from University of South Florida (14-7, 1-1) juniors Dexter Butler and Walter Diaz weren't enough for the Bulls Saturday night, dropping their first BIG EAST Conference game 5-2 to Pittsburgh (7-9, 1-1) at Red McEwen.

Butler sent his bomb over the left field fence in the second inning, then Diaz matched the solo shot in the fifth, tying the game at two, but three runs from Pittsburgh in the ninth gave the Panthers the edge.

Butler was 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, which led to an RBI and a run scored. Butler also had five putouts and three assists with no errors at second base.

Junior Davis Bilardello picked up his first loss of the season, allowing three runs to score from two hits in the ninth. Bilardello had one strikeout in one-third of a relief inning.

After a scoreless first inning, Butler tallied his first home run of the season, giving USF the 1-0 lead.

The Panthers took the 2-0 lead after scoring a run in both the fourth and fifth frames, but Diaz knotted the game at two, hitting his first homer of the year in the bottom of the fifth.

In eight innings of work, junior Daniel Thomas struck out three, allowing two runs (one earned) from 10 hits, before being relieved by Bilardello.

After UP scored three in the top of the inning, freshman Shawn Sanford came in to close the game with one out in the top of the ninth, down by three. In four pitches, Sanford forced the Panthers into a double play, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Mike Consolmagno walked, but a strikeout, sac bunt and fly ball ended the game for the Bulls.

The Bulls and Panthers meet for the third and final time at noon on Sunday, March 18 at Red McEwen Field.