Any word on men's babseball for Sat.?

[usfgary94]

(NM)

[pdiddybull32]

Lost in 11 innings 7 to 6. Had basesloaded and 2 outs in bottom of 11th but Angelberger popped out to 2nd base!

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID Office

Eleventh-Inning Home Run Hands USF First BIG EAST Loss, 7-6

TAMPA, Fla. (Saturday, March 18) –  A home run by Connecticut’s Austin Wasserman in the top of the 11th inning proved to be the difference as the University of South Florida baseball team (9-11, 1-1 BIG EAST) lost to the UConn Huskies (9-6, 1-1 BIG EAST), 7-6 in 11 innings, on Saturday, March 18 at Red McEwen Field. Trailing late in the game, an RBI-single by Dexter Butler tied the scored a 6-all to send the contest to extra innings. However, Wasserman’s solo shot in the final inning, handed USF its first BIG EAST loss of the season.

Butler, who batted 1-for-5, drove in USF’s biggest run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and third, the USF third baseman hit a chopper over the first baseman’s head, scoring Kris Howell from third to tie the score for the first time all contest. Howell led USF, hitting 3-for-4, including a double and two runs scored versus the Huskies. Freshman Addison Maruszak, who was USF’s hero on Friday night, batted 2-for-5 with two runs scored on Saturday.  

Closer Chase Lirette suffered his first loss of the season, allowing one run on two hits in one and two-thirds innings pitched. The Tallahassee, Fla., native struck out two Huskie batters but, gave up the game-winning home run in the top of the 11th. Starter Daniel Thomas pitched five innings on Saturday, giving up five runs on nine hits while striking out one in his sixth start of the season. Reliever Jim Cassidy struck out two hitters while allowing one run on five hits in a career-high four and one-third innings of action.

UConn’s Ted Garry recorded his first win of the season, allowing no runs on two hits in three and two-thirds innings of relief. Third baseman Erik Turgeon (3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored) earned his second save of the season, giving up no runs on one hit in one inning of action.

USF fell in an early hole, allowing five runs on four hits in the top of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, Thomas walked in the first run of the game to give UConn a 1-0 lead. A two-RBI-single by Matt Untiet extended Connecticut’s lead to 3-0. Third baseman Turgeon singled to left field, scoring two runs and adding to UConn’s lead, 5-0.  

The Bulls answered in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs and cutting the Huskies’ lead to one. A single by  Brandin Daniel to right field scored Josh LeRoy, who was on third. Maruszak scored USF’s second run on that same play as a result of a fielding error by catcher Steven Malinowski. A single by Nick Cardieri drove in two more runs to make the score 5-4.

UConn added a run in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Turgeon.

The Bulls tied the game a 6-all, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With Maruszak on second and Howell on first, junior Joey Angelberger singled through the left side of the infield. The single scored Maruszak and cut UConn’s lead to 6-5. Butler’s single past the first baseman tied the game, 6-6.  

Neither team could cross home plate during the final two innings, sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 11th, UConn took its final lead of the game on Wasserman’s solo home run.

The loss was the second extra-inning defeat for the Bulls this season and dropped USF to 1-1 in BIG EAST Conference play.

USF will close out its three-game series versus UConn with Game Three on Sunday, March 19. On the mound for the Bulls will be sophomore Davis Bilardello. Throwing for the Huskies will be right-hander Nick Tucci. First pitch for Game Three is scheduled for 12 p.m.

UConn 7, USF 6 (Mar 18, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)

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UConn............... 500 001 000 01 -  7 16  2

(9-6, 1-1 BIG EAST)

USF................. 400 000 200 00 -  6 13  1

(9-11, 1-1 BIG EAST)

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Pitchers: UConn - SIROIS; SLUARZ(7); GARRY(7); TURGEON, E.(11). USF - THOMAS; CASSIDY(6);

LIRETTE(10).

Win-GARRY(1-0)  Save-TURGEON, E.(2)  Loss-LIRETTE(0-1)  T-3:26  A-138

HR UCONN - WASSERMAN (3); TURGEON, E. (1).

[USFan]

Let's win tomorrow!