|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
| Pittsburgh (32-21, 16-11) |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1 |
3
|
7
|
1
|
| USF (25-29, 13-14) |
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
9
|
1
|
|
| Pitching |
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
SO
|
BB
|
| W - Quackenbush (1-2) |
2.0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
| L - Caravella (4-2) |
0.1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| S - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hitting |
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
Misc.
|
| Pitt - John Sxhultz |
5
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
|
| USF - Alex Mendez |
3
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
|
|
|
TAMPA - Rallying from a ninth inning deficit, the University of South Florida wrapped up the 2011 season with a successful suicide squeeze by Luis Llerena to give the Bulls a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon at the USF Baseball Stadium.
Down 3-1 entering the ninth, the Bulls put the first three runners on. Junior Todd Brazeal drew a walk to force in a run and cut the Pitt lead to 3-2.
With the bases still loaded, the Bulls tied the game on an errant throw by Pitt catcher Kevan Smith trying to double up Chad Taylor at first after the Panthers got a force out at home. The throw sailed into right field allowing Alex Mendez to score easily and tie the game.
With one down and runners on the corners, pinch hitter Luis Llerena bunted the first pitch of his at-bat and Pitt closer Alex Caravella was unable to make a play on pinch runner Anthony Diaz at the plate giving the Bulls the win.
The runs for the Bulls were the first since the second inning of the game when Daniel Rockhold gave USF a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left. The round tripper for Rockhold, who missed six weeks with a hand injury, was the second homer of the season and first since February 25th.
With two outs in the fifth, Pitt used a hit by pitch and a double by Zach Duggan to even the game at one off of USF starter Kyle Parker. Parker would give way to Jimmy Moran with two down in the fifth and Moran fanned Smith to keep the game tied at one.
Pitt took the lead in the seventh with an RBI single by Jon Schultz off of reliever Zach Pietrzyk.
The Panthers then extended their lead to 3-1 picking up an unearned run off closer Kevin Quackenbush. Quackenbush entered the game in the eighth, sitting the Panthers down in order. Quackenbush (1-2) would pick up the win, his first of the season.
For the game the Bulls outhit the Panthers, 9-7.
Despite the ninth inning heroics, the Bulls celebration was short lived as they were informed that they did not get the help they needed to punch their ticket into next week's BIG EAST Championships. Notre Dame, Cincinnati and Seton Hall were all victorious leaving the Bulls as the odd man out, finishing ninth in the BIG EAST standings.
Game Notes
USF honored their seven seniors in a pre-game ceremony, honoring the following: Peter Brotons, Junior Carlin, Kyle Eastham, Randy Fontanez, Jonathan Koscso, Zach Pietrzyk and Kevin Quackenbush... USF is 12-5 against Pitt all-time and 7-2 at home... It is the first time USF has missed the postseason since joining the BIG EAST Conference and first time since 2003... The win is the Bulls third walk-off win of the season... The home run by Rockhold was the 10th of the career... For the first time this season the Bulls homered in three straight games...
