TAMPA, Fla. (April 24, 2007) ? The University of South Florida baseball team lost its fourth-straight game Tuesday night as the Bulls lost 11-5 to the University of Central Florida at Jay Bergman Field in Orlando.
Freshman Daryl Lewis took his first loss in his first-career start of the season against the Golden Knights. In his seventh appearance, Lewis allowed nine runs from eight hits in 2.2 innings. Junior left handed pitcher Davis Bilardello pitched 3.2 innings, allowing one run from three hits while striking out three of his 16 batters faced.
Junior shortstop Walter Diaz ended his 24-game hitting streak with an 0-for-3 night, but drew two walks and had two put outs.
Sophomore third baseman Addison Maruszak was 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored while senior Ty Taborelli was the only other Bull to record a multiple-hit game with his 2-for-5 outing.
UCF tagged the scoreboard first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. USF cut the lead in half in the top of the third, scoring one run from two hits.
With one out in the third, Taborelli singled to left field then advanced to second on a passed ball. Maruszak sent a base hit through the right side to score Taborelli, driving in his 33rd RBI of the season.
UCF exploded for eight hits and eight runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 10-1.
Two innings later, the Bulls drew two walks and produced three hits to narrow the margin to 10-4.
Diaz and Butler each drew walks, putting two ducks on the pond for Maruszak, who doubled to center field, scoring two runs. Maruszak then scored as junior Charles Cleveland singled to left center, cracking his 20th hit of the year.
In the sixth the Bulls drew UCF's lead to five as sophomore Braulio Pardo singled to right center then Diaz drew a walk in time for Butler to bring Pardo around for the Bulls' fifth and final run of the game.
The Golden Knights scored one more in the bottom of the seventh to take the 11-5 win.
Following today's trip to Orlando, the Bulls hit the road for a three-game BIG EAST series with Louisville April 27-29 in Kentucky.
