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Thursday, May 15, 2008   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 Final ND  0  2  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  4 USF  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  0  3  5

TAMPA, Fla. ? Down by two in the bottom of the ninth, the University of South Florida (27-25, 12-13) baseball team tagged a pair of doubles, got hit by two pitches, then scored two runs from a throwing error to beat Notre Dame, 5-4, Thursday night at Red McEwen Field.

With one out, USF drew within a run after juniors Mike Consolmagno and Trey Manz had back-to-back doubles to left field. Then senior Joey Angelberger and junior Addison Maruszak loaded the bases after each being plunked in the back. Down by one, freshman Stephen Hunt sent a pitch to ND's second baseman, who launched his throw over the first baseman's head, allowing Manz and Angelberger to score and give USF its 27th win of the season. 

"If they can't get excited now, they shouldn't be playing baseball," said head coach Lelo Prado. "That's a great win right there. In baseball, crazy things happen. You get a little momentum. It's a great time to be hot right now."

Freshman Jonathan Koscso was 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI in the first inning. Angelberger, who scored the winning run, had a pair of hits, including his team-leading eighth home run of the year. Maruszak also picked up two hits, a single in the third and a double down the right field line in the fifth.

Freshman Michael Anzivino was awarded the win, his first of the season, forcing one Notre Dame batter to a fly out in the top of the ninth.

Junior starting pitcher Daniel Thomas collected four strikeouts in his 7.0 innings, his longest appearance of the season. Thomas now has 200 career strikeouts, which is 14th in the school's record book for career Ks.

With the ninth-inning victory, the Bulls spoiled Notre Dame's 30-0 record when the Fighting Irish were leading after eight innings.

What's it Going to Take?
The Bulls are looking to clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Championship, held in Clearwater, Fla., May 20-24, this weekend, and the new formula is a matter of ones. Because Villanova lost and the Rutgers game on Thursday was postponed, USF will get into the tournament if the Bulls win one, OR Rutgers loses one, OR Villanova loses one, since USF holds the tiebreaker over both Villanova and Rutgers. The Wildcats are hosting first-place St. John's this weekend while Rutgers travels to fourth-place Louisville to play a double-header on Friday and one game on Saturday.