STORRS, Conn. (March 31, 2007) ? The University of South Florida baseball team scored three runs in the first two innings to beat Connecticut 3-0 Saturday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn.
The shut out was USF's third of the season, along with the 14-0 season-opening victory against High Point, and two February wins over Manhattan, 3-0 and 5-0.
Saturday's victory was USF's sixth-straight, which ties the Bulls' longest win-streak this season, the 9-0 clip from Feb. 9-18 that opened the 2007 season.
The Bulls (22-8) turned three double plays in USF's sixth conference win of the season.
Junior Chris Delaney, who is 6-0 this season, threw seven innings for the Bulls, allowing five hits - all singles - and no runs while striking out one of his 27 batters faced.
Freshman Shawn Sanford picked up his seventh save of the year, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out one in 2.0 innings.
Junior shortstop Walter Diaz extended his hitting streak to 12 games this afternoon, batting 3-for-5 with one run and an RBI.
The hits came early for the Bulls in the second game of the series with Connecticut as Diaz, the leadoff batter, singled down the right field line in the first inning, beginning a one-run, two-hit frame.
After stealing a base, Diaz scored as sophomore Addison Maruszak placed a shot into short right field.
In the second, the Bulls played small ball as senior Nick Cardieri drew the walk and junior Josh LeRoy bunted him into scoring position. Sophomore Braulio Pardo singled to center field to score Cardieri, then Pardo advanced to third on a fielding error by the Huskies.
Sophomore Mike Consolmagno drew a walk then stole second in time for Diaz to ground out to shortstop and earn his 20th RBI of the season.
The Bulls were held scoreless in the final seven innings.
Pardo was 2-4 at the plate with one run and an RBI while Maruszak and junior Brandin Daniel each picked up a hit in the game.
The Bulls and Huskies conclude the three-game BIG EAST series Sunday at noon in Storrs, Conn.
