TAMPA, Fla. (May 15, 2007) ? University of South Florida junior first baseman Brandin Daniel sent a solo home run over the left field fence in the second inning to give USF the momentum to beat No. 22 Stetson 5-0 Tuesday night at Red McEwen Field. The homer was Daniel's sixth of the season and the 15th of his career.
The shut out was the fifth of the season for USF and the first time that the Hatters have been shut out since 2005.
Freshman right hander Matt Quevedo pitched his second-career complete game, allowing three hits while striking out five and walking four. Late in the game, Quevedo retired 18-straight batters.
USF's fifth through eighth-hole batters each had two hits as junior Joey Angelberger was 2-of-3 while Daniel, sophomore Addison Maruszak and senior Nick Cardieri were each 2-of-4. All four players recorded an RBI.
USF scored one run in the second, were held scoreless in the fourth, then recorded a single run in four consecutive innings on their way to the 31st victory of the year.
After Daniel's home run in the second inning put the Bulls up 1-0, the Bulls doubled their score in the fourth. Base hits by Maruszak, Angelberger and Cardieri scored Maruszak for USF's second tally.
In the fifth, the Bulls scored after sophomore Mike Consolmagno stretched a single into a double, then moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on a squeeze play at home.
An inning later Daniel sent a single through the right side, then moved to second as Angelberger drew a walk. Cardieri's shot toward second base scored Daniel as Cardieri tallied his 14th RBI of the year.
The Bulls produced three hits in the seventh to score their fifth and final run. Consecutive singles from junior shortstop Walter Diaz, junior second baseman Dexter Butler and Maruszak allowed the Bulls to take the 5-0 lead and the eventual win in the non-conference match up with Stetson.
This weekend, USF will host St. John's in the final weekend of BIG EAST play. The Bulls and Red Storm will meet at 6 p.m. on both Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18, then at 1 p.m. Saturday for the regular season finale. USF will recognize five seniors prior to the game on Saturday, including Nick Cardieri, Chris Delaney, Yuri Higgins, Danny Otero and Ty Taborelli.
