BB: Bulls Host Mich. St. & Quinnipiac March 8-10

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

USF Baseball Hosts Michigan State and Quinnipiac March 8-10

TAMPA, Fla. (March 7, 2007) – The University of South Florida baseball team will host a two-team set this weekend as Michigan State and Quinnipiac return to Red McEwen Field for the second time in each school’s history. The Bulls will host the MSU Spartans Thursday and Saturday, both at 6 p.m., and play the Bobcats Friday at 6 p.m.

MSU and QU will play each other at noon on Friday and again at the same time on Sunday.  

The Series vs. Michigan State

USF has not played Michigan State since the 1991 season, when the Bulls swept the Spartans in three games,  March 22-24 in Tampa. The Bulls won 8-6, 15-6 and 9-8 that season.  

The Series vs. Quinnipiac

The Bobcats from Hamden, Conn., last played at USF in the 2005 season, when the Bulls were victorious in all three games. From March 11-13, USF won three games by scores of 9-7, 8-3 and 13-5.

A Look At The Teams

USF

After a 6-5 victory over Stetson Tuesday night, the Bulls are 11-4 overall and just three victories shy of 1,200 USF baseball program wins.  

USF is batting .333 with 169 hits, including four home runs, two triples and 30 doubles. The Bulls have outscored their opponents 124-92 and have 33 more RBI (113-80). USF has drawn 64 walks and has been hit by 33 pitches.  

The Bulls pitching staff owns a 4.50 ERA in 134.0 innings pitched. USF has struck out 106 opponents and walked 70.

MSU

The Spartans are 3-2 this season, and are currently in the middle of an eight-day road trip to Florida, playing eight games in four cities. Before their four games in Tampa, the Spartans will have played Stetson in DeLand and Central Florida in Orlando, along with two games in Lakeland against Saint Joseph’s and Pittsburgh.

Prior to their Wednesday night game with Stetson, Michigan State is 3-3 with victories over Jacksonville,4-2, St. Joseph’s, 22-1, and Pittsburgh, 4-3.  

As a team, MSU is batting .302 with 42 runs scored and 40 RBI. Their 65 hits include one home run, four triples and 10 doubles. Only four Spartans have been hit by a pitch and 25 walks have been drawn.

On the mound, MSU owns a 3.71 ERA in 51.0 innings pitched. The Spartan staff has struck out 42 while allowing 36 hits and 30 walks.

QU

The Bobcats are also on an eight-game road trip to the Sunshine State, opening the 2007 season with Michigan State on March 9 at noon before their game with USF at 6 p.m. Quinnipiac will then play Harvard at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater on Saturday, before returning to Tampa to play Michigan State on Sunday.  

Players To Watch

Sophomore Addison Maruszak has posted a team-high .408 average so far this season with 20 hits in 49 at-bats. Junior Brandin Daniel’s .396 is third on the squad, behind Maruszak and junior Dexter Butler’s .400, and leads the Bulls with 24 RBI and 32 total bases. Junior Walter Diaz has a team-high 24 hits in 65 at-bats for a .369 average.  

This weekend’s pitching rotation includes Chris Delaney (Jr., RHP), Danny Otero (Sr., RHP) and Yuri Higgins (Sr., RHP). Delaney owns a 4.50 ERA in four appearances, three of which were starts. In 18.0 innings pitched, he has struck out 17 and walked 12. Otero, the Friday night starter, is 3-2 this season with a 2.70 ERA. He has struck out 20 and walked just seven in 30.0 innings. On Saturday, Higgins, who is primarily a closer for the Bulls, will get the start - the 12th of his 66-apperance career. Higgins has made eight appearances this season, striking out 12 in 11.0 innings.  

Steve Gerstenberger is leading the Michigan State Spartans so far this season with a .435 batting average, and his 10 hits are tied with Brandon Doherty’s for the team-high. In six games, Doherty has tallied four RBI from one triple and a double. His 13 total bases and .500 slugging percentage leads the team. Eli Boike and Evan Friedland each have six RBI and four runs scored while Dennis Jones has five RBI from five hits.  

John Kibler, Sunday’s probable starter on the mound, is 0-1 this season in his two starts. He owns a 5.59 ERA, along with five strikeouts and 10 hits in 9.2 innings pitched.  

The Quinnipiac Bobcats bring back five all-conference performers, most notably senior outfielder Ryan Rizzo, who was tabbed for the NEC First Team after leading the conference in hitting with a .402 average and 74 hits. John Delaney was also a first team selection who batted .353 as a sophomore last season as Quinnipiac's leadoff hitter. Tim Binkoski batted .339 with 11 doubles and five homeruns for his second all-NEC selection. The team will also look for a solid season on the mound from sophomore Andy Mayer who posted a 6-4 record for Quinnipiac, leading the Bobcats in wins.

What’s Next For USF

Following their three-game weekend set, the Bulls host the University of Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, March 13 at 6 p.m. before opening the BIG EAST Conference season March 16-18 with Pittsburgh. The Bulls and Panthers will play at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, then at noon on Sunday at Red McEwen Field.

[theman123]

nice

im hoping to make it over two Red Mcewen some tiem this weekend

[GrotheforHeisman07]

I will be there Tomm. and hopefully Friday, I can't wait.  We need to play better than we did Tuesday, but at least we won.  Does anyone know why we play Thursday, Friday, Saturday instead of the usual Friday, Saturday, Sunday?

[80mins]

Let's beat the brakes off Quinnibiatch... me and that school go way back.

[JoeB]

We don't play Sunday because Quinnipiac and Michigan State play that day at Red McEwen Field. at noon.  Is Delaney the starter tonight?  What happened to Daniel Thomas?  He was our Friday starter last week, and there is no mention of him.  Did he get hurt or something?

[Wags]

Delaney starts today.

From the Oracle today -- "Prado said the Bulls will be missing pitcher Daniel Thomas over the weekend. The junior is out with an injured right knee. Prado added that senior Yuri Higgins will move into Thomas' slot in the lineup, and Chris Delaney, who starts tonight, "has to give us a good outing, especially since we don't have Thomas."

Senior Danny Otero will pitch Friday against Quinnipiac, and Higgins will make the Saturday start against the Spartans."

[JoeB]

Thanks for the info Wags.  Delaney threw game two on Sunday correct?  Hopefully the short rest won't be a big issue.  Might need some good innings from the bully again.

[Wags]

Delaney started game #2, but only threw 2IP. I know he's ready to get back at them after last week.

//off to the field for BP