Baseball Release

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Courtesy USF SID

Baseball Looks To Even All-Time Series With JU Following Saturday’s 12-7 Victory

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2007) – The University of South Florida baseball team looks to even the all-time series with Jacksonville at 49, following the Bulls’ 12-7 victory over the Dolphins Saturday night at Red McEwen Field.  

Although Jacksonville took the early 2-0 lead, USF scored 12 runs over five consecutive innings to improve to 5-0 this season.  

Despite two strikeouts by junior right-handed pitcher Daniel Thomas in the first inning, the Dolphins tallied two runs off a hit and a USF error.  

The Bulls counteracted with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third, smashing four hits, including a double and a home run. Senior outfielder Ty Taborelli doubled to left field and advanced to third on an error by JU. First baseman Brandin Daniel tied the game in the bottom of the third with a monster two-out home run over the right field fence, bringing in Taborelli.

Junior outfielder Joey Angelberger followed the bomb with a double down the left field line, then senior designated hitter Nick Cardieri was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base for the Bulls. After second baseman Dexter Butler loaded the bases by drawing the walk, the Dolphins made a pitching change as sophomore catcher Braulio Pardo stepped to the plate.  

Pardo, who was batting .667 entering the fifth game of the season, singled through the left side to gain two RBI, improving his total to six this season.  

After Thomas rung up another strikeout in the top of the fourth, USF registered back-to-back two-out offensive rallies by scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame.  

In the fourth, Taborelli walked and sophomore Addison Maruszak was hit by a pitch, allowing Daniel to gain an RBI on a base hit. Angelberger then bunted to move the runners into scoring position for Butler. Butler singled, knocking in Daniel and Maruszak, to score the second and third runs of the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore outfielder Mike Consolmagno drew a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a Dolphin throwing error. Taborelli grounded out to second, batting in Consolmagno to score USF’s eighth run of the game.

Freshman RHP Matt Quevedo came into the game in the sixth, recording two strikeouts, but allowed two runs off of two hits, narrowing the margin to 8-4 in favor of USF.  

The Bulls matched the Dolphins’ two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Daniel singled through the left side then advanced to second as Cardieri grounded out to the pitcher. Butler then singled up the middle, earning an RBI as Daniel scored.  

USF continued its five-inning run-streak in the seventh by scoring two on three hits. Consolmagno singled to center field then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Maruszak. Daniel doubled down the right field line to bring in Consolmagno, then Angelberger singled to right field, scoring freshman J.C. Suarez, who was pinch running for Daniel, and tallying the Bulls’ final run of the game.

Jacksonville again tried to put together some late-game hits for a rally, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth, but Quevedo left three runners on base to end the comeback attempt.  

Thomas picked up his first win of the season, striking out four and allowing no earned runs in five innings pitched, while Quevedo faced 18 batters, striking out two in three innings of work.  

Daniel went 4-for-5 at the plate, tallying four RBI and three runs scored while Butler and Pardo each notched three RBI with two and three hits, respectively.  

The Bulls and Panthers take the field for the final contest of the three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Red McEwen Field.