TAMPA, Fla. (April 21, 2007) ? University of South Florida junior shortstop Walter Diaz sent a single to the right side in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 23 games as the Bulls dropped their second of three games to Rutgers, 7-5, in 10 innings Saturday night at Red McEwen Field.
Leading 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth, USF gave up a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to tie the game, then the Scarlet Knights scored two more off of a USF error in the 10th to win the second game of the series.
The contest was USF's second extra-inning game of the year and the second in the past eight days, both of which were losses. The first was a 3-2 loss to Villanova on April 13 in Pennsylvania.
Freshman right handed pitcher Shawn Sanford took the loss against Rutgers, dropping his record to 1-2 on the season. Sanford allowed two hits and four runs while striking out one in 1.0 inning.
Junior right handed pitcher Chris Delaney tossed an eight-inning no decision for the Bulls, allowing three runs from seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Bulls got on the board before their opponent for the first time in five games, scoring two runs from two hits and one Rutgers error.
The Scarlet Knights' second baseman bobbled a grounder, allowing sophomore Mike Consolmagno to reach first base. The Staten Island native stole second then moved to third as Diaz singled to the right side. Consolmagno was 1-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and an intentional walk.
Sophomore Addison Maruszak then singled to center field to give the Bulls a first-inning 2-0 lead.
Rutgers cut the margin in half in the fifth, scoring one run from one hit, but nine Bulls batted in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs, pushing the score to 5-1.
Junior Charles Cleveland singled up the middle to start the inning, but was forced out at second as junior Joey Angelberger reached on a fielder's choice. Sophomore Braulio Pardo ran out a bunt, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Rutgers' pitcher, which also allowed Angelberger to score from first. A sac fly by Diaz scored Pardo, notching Diaz' 27th RBI of the year.
In his second at-bat of the night, Consolmagno singled to left field then stole his second base of the game. Butler sent a base hit to right field, then Maruszak drew a walk to load the bases for freshman Ryan Soares, who was hit by a pitch, which scored Consolmagno.
The Scarlet Knights fought back again with two runs in the sixth, then sent a two-run homer over the right field fence to tie the game in the top of the ninth. The Bulls were held scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Rutgers reached on a walk, then scored as USF committed its first error of the game, an overthrow to first base. The Scarlet Knights collected a hit by pitch and a base hit to score another run, taking their first lead of the game, 7-5.
Butler was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the 10th, but the Bulls stranded him on base, dropping the second of three games to Rutgers.
The Bulls and Scarlet Knights conclude the BIG EAST series at noon on Sunday in Tampa. Sunday's BIG EAST game can be viewed live at noon on Catch 47, the official cable partner of USF athletics, or when it re-airs on Monday, April 23 at 9 p.m. Jim Louk will provide play-by-play on Sunday and former Major League Baseball All-Star Fred McGriff will be on hand as the color analyst.
