TAMPA, Fla. (March 8, 2007) ? Back-to-back homeruns from the Bulls in the sixth helped the University of South Florida baseball team to a 13-5 victory over Michigan State Thursday night at Red McEwen Field.
With one out in the sixth, senior outfielder Ty Taborelli blasted a three-run home run, immediately followed by a solo shot from sophomore Addison Maruszak. The home run was Taborelli's fifth bomb in his four years at USF, while Maruszak's was the second of his career.
Junior right handed pitcher Chris Delaney picked up his third win of the season, registering five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Freshman Shawn Sanford tallied his second save of the season, collecting four strikeouts from 10 batters faced.
The Bulls jumped on the scoreboard early, notching four runs in the first and one in the second to take the early 5-0 lead.
Junior shortstop Walter Diaz opened the first-inning hit parade with a double to right field, and scored as Taborelli sent a two-bag shot to the left side. Back-to-back singles from juniors Brandin Daniel and Dexter Butler put two runners on base in time for a two-RBI triple from senior Nick Cardieri.
Sophomore catcher Braulio Pardo notched a double in the second inning, and Maruszak singled through the left side to score the Bulls' fifth run of the game.
After two scoreless innings, Michigan State tallied its first run of the game in the fifth, only to be matched by the Bulls in the bottom of the frame.
The Spartans notched three more in the sixth, but again, the Bulls answered the call by scoring four in the bottom of the inning to extend the USF lead, 10-4.
The Bulls' four hits in the sixth included two home runs, Diaz's second double of the game and Pardo's third hit of the night.
MSU scored for the third consecutive inning in the seventh, but again USF counteracted with two runs of its own, off of base hits from Cardieri and junior Joey Angelberger.
The Bulls tallied 19 hits against the Spartans, tying the season-high, which was recorded in the second game against Central Michigan on March 4. USF has tallied double-digit runs in 11 games this season.
Maruszak and Daniel were both 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Taborelli notched a game-high four RBI. Maruszak and Cardieri each registered two RBI.
Following tonight's victory, the Bulls will host Quinnipiac tomorrow before facing the Spartans again on Saturday. The Bulls host the Bobcats from Hamden, Conn., on Friday, March 9 at 6 p.m. USF, who will have played seven games in nine days, end the week with Michigan State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, Michigan State and Quinnipiac will play at noon at Red McEwen Field.
