USF Beat Uconn 4 to 3 In Bottom Of 9th!

[pdiddybull32]

Hey just letting everybody know we won today 4 to 3 with a walkoff Hit By Pitch by Brad Karns in the bottom of 9th:) That makes 2 out of 3 on weekend against Huskies! Go BULLS! Ladies take care of Business tonight against USC!

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID Office

USF Wins First-Ever BIG EAST Series; Defeats UConn 4-3

TAMPA, Fla. (Sunday, March 19) –  A two-run ninth inning gave the University of South Florida (10-11, 2-1 BIG EAST) a 4-3 win over the UConn Huskies (9-7, 1-2 BIG EAST) on Sunday, March 19 at Red McEwen Field. Trailing by one run during its half of the ninth, USF rallied to take the teams’ first-ever BIG EAST series, 2-games-to-1. A double by pinch hitter Brian Baisley with a runner on second, tied the game while a hit batsmen brought in the game winning run with the bases loaded.

Baisley, who pinch hit for Mike Consolmagno in the bottom of the ninth, recorded his eighth double of the season on Sunday. His game-tying RBI was the 12th of the season for the Land O’Lakes, Fla., native. Pinch hitter Brad Karns notched the game-winning RBI after being struck by the first pitch he faced. The RBI was the fifth of the season for Karns. Eight different Bulls registered a hit in the contest, including Dexter Butler, who went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Consolmagno drove in a run while batting 1-for-3 versus the Huskies. First baseman Brandin Daniel extended his season-best and career-high hitting streak to seven games with an RBI-single, going 1-for-4.  

Closer Chase Lirette was awarded his first win of the season, allowing no runs on no hits in two-thirds of an inning pitched. Left-hander Davis Bilardello, who got the starting nod on Sunday, lasted eight innings, giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out five Huskie batters. Reliever Nick Manganaro saw action in a third of an inning, allowing one run on two hits versus UConn.

Connecticut took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, recording five hits, including RBI-singles by Pat Mahoney and Erik Turgeon.

The Bulls cut in the Huskies’ lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Consolmagno singled to left field, scoring Joey Angelberger from third. Butler, who attempted to tie the score on the Consolmagno single, was thrown out at home to end the inning.  

The Bulls eventually tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. A single by Daniel to left field with Addison Maruszak on third and pinch-runner Ty Taborelli on first, scored USF’s shortstop, tying the game at 2-all. The Bulls nearly took the lead later that inning. However, a diving-catch by left fielder Austin Wasserman ended the inning, stranding runners on first and third.

UConn regained the lead in the top of the ninth, scoring from third on a wild pitch.  

In the bottom of the ninth, with Butler on second, Baisley crushed a double to center field on the second pitch he faced. The two-bagger scored Butler and tied the game, 3-3. A few batters later the bases were loaded with one out when Karns stepped to the plate. The first pitch by Mike Tarsi against the Okeechobee, Fla., native struck the batter, bringing home a run and giving USF the 4-3 victory.

On the afternoon, USF turned a season-high four double plays, getting the Bulls out of a number of jams and giving them the chance for the victory.

The win gives USF its first-ever BIG EAST series victory and marks the teams eight victory in its last 10 outings.  

USF will host the Vermont Catamounts in non-conference action on Tuesday, March 21. Game time is 7 p.m.

USF 4, UConn 3 (Mar 19, 2006 at Tampa, Fla.)

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UConn............... 000 200 001  -  3  9  2      (9-7, 1-2 BIG EAST)

USF................. 000 100 012  -  4  8  1      (10-11, 2-1 BIG EAST)

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Pitchers: UConn - TUCCI; MacDONALD(8); TARSI(9). USF - BILARDELLO; MANGANARO(9); LIRETTE(9).

Win-LIRETTE(1-1)  Loss-TARSI(1-1)  T-2:37  A-274

TARSI faced 4 batters in the 9th.