BROOKLYN, N.Y. (May 22, 2007) ? The University of South Florida scored one run in the top of the ninth to beat Pittsburgh, 2-1, Tuesday night in the first round of the 2007 BIG EAST Baseball Championship held at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tied at one apiece going into the last inning, USF scored one run from a bunt single and a Panther error to win the game 2-1.
The victory was the Bulls' first conference tournament win since the 2005 season.
Senior right handed pitcher Danny Otero tossed his fifth complete game of the season, a four-strikeout, three-hit outing. Otero only threw 86 pitches in his ninth win of his senior season.
Sophomore third baseman Addison Maruszak was the lone Bull to record a multiple-hit game, a 2-of-4 outing, recording a ground-rule double over the left-field wall in the second inning.
After USF tallied in the fifth, Pittsburgh tied the score in the sixth, but the Bulls notched the game-winning run in the top of the ninth, earning their 33rd victory of the 2007 campaign.
Senior Nick Cardieri singled to the right side to lead off the Bulls in the top of the fifth. After a sac bunt from sophomore Braulio Pardo and a pop fly by junior Walter Diaz, sophomore Mike Consolmagno stepped to the plate. With two outs, the outfielder was hit by a pitch then senior Ty Taborelli reached on an error by the Panther second baseman to load the bases. Pittsburgh sent a wild pitch to the backstop, allowing Cardieri to score for USF's first run of the game.
Pittsburgh tied the game at one apiece in the bottom of the sixth after a hit by pitch and a double from the Panther right fielder.
In the ninth USF took the lead as junior Joey Angelberger pushed a bunt down the right line, then moved to second on a sac bunt from Cardieri. Diaz hit a shot toward the Panther second baseman, who tossed the throw past first base, allowing Angelberger to score the game-winning run.
On Wednesday at 8 p.m., the Bulls will play the No. 1 seed, St. John's, in the second round of the tournament.
Watch the USF website for more information about the rest of the 2007 BIG EAST Baseball Championship held at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
