TAMPA, Fla. (March 18, 2007) ? The University of South Florida (15-7) turned a triple play in the fourth inning, which helped the Bulls earn their second BIG EAST Conference win Sunday afternoon, beating Pittsburgh (7-10) 5-2 at Red McEwen Field in Tampa.
USF turned their triple play after Addison Maruszak fielded a ball hit to third base, threw to Dexter Butler, who doubled up the runners at second and first, then first baseman Brandin Daniel threw to catcher Brad Karns, who tagged out the third player, completing the triple-play.
Junior Chris Delaney picked up his fourth win of the season, scattering six hits and walking three, while striking out three of his 28 batters faced in 6.2 innings.
Senior Yuri Higgins came in to relieve Delaney in the seventh, earning his third save of the season with four Ks and two walks in 2.1 innings. In his senior season, Higgins has tallied 30 strikeouts in 20.2 innings of work.
Senior Ty Taborelli's 1-for-3 game extended his hitting streak to seven games, a stretch that began with the March 8 contest against Michigan State. During the streak, the Tampa native has had two home runs and a pair of doubles, along with seven RBI. Two of those seven games were multiple-hit outings.
In the third game of the series, the Bulls broke out of the gates scoring four in the first two innings, then Pitt cut the margin in half with a pair of runs in the third. USF gave themselves an insurance run in the seventh and held off the Panthers the final three innings to earn the three-run victory.
USF's first runs came as Taborelli, Maruszak and Butler had consecutive base hits, giving Butler his 14th RBI of the season. Daniel then drew a walk and freshman Ryan Soares registered a fielder's choice, which brought Maruszak across the plate for the 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, Diaz and Taborelli drew back-to-back two-out walks, then Maruszak was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taborelli scored on a Pitt error, then a wild pitch by the Panthers allowed Diaz to score the Bulls' fourth run.
Five innings later Mike Consolmagno drew his 12th walk of the season, and scored after rounding the bases on ground outs by Diaz and Taborelli.
Maruszak was 2-for-3 in the third conference game of the season, scoring one run and being hit by a pitch for the 12th time this season.
The Bulls host North Florida on Tuesday, March 20 before hitting the road for their first games not in the state of Florida. USF will play BIG EAST Conference foe Notre Dame March 23-25 in Indiana.
Series Notes:
Bulls 6-0 In Conference Openers
Following Friday night's 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh, USF has won six consecutive conference openers, including two in the BIG EAST and four as a Conference USA school.
Taborelli Streaks Through BIG EAST Opener
Senior Ty Taborelli is on a seven-game hitting streak, beginning with the March 8 game against Michigan State. During that streak, the Tampa native has had two home runs and a pair of doubles, along with eight RBI. Two of those seven games were multiple-hit outings.
Playing Dodgeball
The USF baseball team has taken one for the team 40 times this season, led by Addison Maruszak's 12. Maruszak was hit by a pitch in five of the first six games this season. Junior shortstop Walter Diaz has been struck six times and two others have four HBP in the books.
