LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 27, 2007) ? The University of South Florida baseball team picked up their 10th BIG EAST Conference win of the season Friday night as the Bulls beat the University of Louisville 10-4 at Patterson Stadium in Kentucky.
USF improves to 28-16 overall while Louisville drops to 28-13 overall and 11-5 in the BIG EAST.
Senior right hander Danny Otero pitched his third complete game of the season, earning his seventh win after striking out five, walking three and allowing four runs from nine hits.
Junior second baseman Dexter Butler was 3-for-5 with four RBIs while junior shortstop Walter Diaz, who was recently added to the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List, was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a stolen base.
The Bulls notched double-digit hits (13) for the 21st time this season and the second time in the past two games.
USF took a 6-1 lead after six innings, but the Cardinals fought back with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score within two. The Bulls extended their lead to 10-4 after nine, winning their sixth of the last seven games over the Cardinals.
The Bulls jumped on the scoreboard early, notching two runs from one hit. Diaz started the game with a leadoff single to right field, then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior outfielder Ty Taborelli drew a walk, then advanced to second on the wild pitch.
The Bulls scored their two runs as Butler and sophomore third baseman Addison Maruszak both grounded out in back-to-back at bats, each tallying RBIs on the plays.
The Cardinals cut the Bulls' lead in half in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run from one hit.
USF scored four runs in three innings, registering nine hits, but leaving six on base, during the fourth, fifth and sixth frames.
In the fourth, USF scored one run due to singles from junior designated hitter Charles Cleveland and junior outfielder Joey Angelberger.
An inning later, Diaz picked up his second hit of the game, a single through the left side. He then advanced to third after Taborelli grounded out to first base. Butler sent a base hit through the left side to score Diaz, notching his 35th RBI of the season.
USF produced four hits in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs from singles by Angelberger, Diaz, Butler and Maruszak.
Louisville posted three runs in the sixth as the Cardinals' third baseman hit a three-run homer over the center field wall, dropping the Bulls' lead to two runs, 6-4.
USF regained a three-run lead in the seventh after freshman Ryan Soares singled to right field, then Daniel and Angelberger each drew walks, which scored one run.
In the top of the ninth Cleveland, Angelberger, Taborelli and sophomore catcher Braulio Pardo reached on walks while sophomore Mike Consolmagno and Butler were each hit by a pitch, scoring three runs and extending the Bulls' final lead to 10-4.
The Bulls and Cardinals meet again Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., then wrap up the three-game series Sunday at noon at Patterson Stadium in Louisville.
