Golden Panthers Scratch Bulls, 6-2, in Game One
April 15, 2009 | Baseball
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USF
Game One: FIU 6, USF 2
Up Next:
USF at Villanova | April 17-19 | Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
TAMPA ? After a Tuesday night rainout, the University of South Florida baseball team got back to work on Wednesday afternoon at Red McEwen field, dropping a 6-2 decision to the visiting FIU Panthers in game one of a doubleheader.
With the loss the Bulls moved to 22-12 on the season while FIU improved to 21-12 overall.
Five different pitchers shared duties on the mound for the Bulls in the first game of the doubleheader. Teddy Kaufman started the game on the mound, giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out five in 5.2 innings of work.
Joe Cole relieved Kaufman on the mound in the middle of the sixth, allowing two hits and striking out three without surrendering an earned run through two innings while taking the loss for USF. Designated player Stephen Hunt took the mound, replacing Cole, allowing a double to the one batter he faced.
Hurler Kevin Quakenbush took over for Hunt in the top of the eighth, allowing one run on one hit while walking a pair.
Zach Pietrzyk closed out the game for the hosts, entering in the bottom of the eighth and holding the Panthers hitless through 1.1 inning while striking out one and walking one.
FIU pitcher R.J. Fondon earned the victory for the Panthers, allowing five hits and both Bulls' runs while striking out six through seven innings.
Freshman Sam Mende led the Green & Gold offensively, going 2-4 with a double while Steven Stropp led FIU at the plate, going 3-5 with three RBI doubles.
The Panthers got on the board in the top of the first as Ryan Mollica sent a one-out single into right field and stole second. Stropp knocked in the run, doubling to the left field corner to give FIU an early 1-0 lead.
After a pair of scoreless half innings for the home team, the Bulls evened the playing field in the bottom of the third. Mike Consolmagno collected a leadoff base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Peter Brotons. Jonathan Koscso drove in Consolmagno with a two-out single, tying the game, 1-1, while chalking up his 22nd RBI of the season.
USF broke the deadlock in the fifth, taking its first lead of the game. Shortstop Sam Mende led off the bottom of the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Panthers passed ball. Ryan Lockwood drove in the go-ahead run with a double to right center field, giving the Bulls a 2-1 advantage.
FIU answered in the top of the seventh as Mollica led off the inning with a double and knotted the game, 2-2, courtesy of a throwing error by Bulls catcher Daniel Rockhold off a swinging bunt by Tyler Townsend. Stropp increased the FIU lead, doubling to right center field to score Townsend and put the Panthers on top, 3-2.
The Panthers added a trio of insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Cole struck out the first two batters of the inning before Mollica singled to second ? his third hit of the game for FIU. Designated player Stephen Hunt took over pitching duties for Cole in the middle of the inning and surrendered an RBI double to Townsend. Quakenbush relieved Hunt of his pitching duties after just one batter, entering to face Stropp.
Despite the pitching changes, Stropp continued to be an offensive power for FIU, sending his third RBI double of the game to left center field, scoring Townsend. A pair of passed balls by Rockhold allowed Stropp to score, tacking on the third run of the inning to give the Panthers a 6-2 lead they would never relinquish.
Game two of the double header kicks off immediately following game one, with first pitch tentatively scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
