BB:  Time to start the Big East Season

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

USF Opens BIG EAST Season This Weekend With Pittsburgh

TAMPA, Fla. (March 14, 2007) – The University of South Florida (13-6) baseball team will open their second season in the BIG EAST this weekend, hosting Pittsburgh (6-8) Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at noon at Red McEwen Field.  

The Panthers hold a 2-1 series lead over the Bulls after picking up 2-of-3 last season in Pennsylvania.  

USF comes into the BIG EAST opener off a 6-5 victory over Miami (Ohio) on March 13. The Bulls are 4-2 in the past six games after opening the season 9-1.  

USF is collectively batting .328, which includes 209 hits in 638 at bats. The Bulls have tallied 137 RBI, with help from eight home runs, four triples and 38 doubles.  

The Bulls pitching staff owns a 4.50 ERA in 19 games, allowing 167 hits and 85 earned runs. USF has struck out 148 and walked 90 in 170.0 innings. In the past six games, USF relief pitchers have posted a 1.50 ERA.  

Pittsburgh enters Tuesday’s game on a six-game win streak after starting 0-8. The Panthers have played their past eight games in Florida, six of which were at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater.  

Offensively, Pittsburgh is batting .273, hitting seven home runs, four triples and 16 doubles. Their 132 hits have produced 61 RBI and 77 runs scored. Active on the base paths, the Panthers are 17-26 stealing bases in 14 games.  

On the mound, the Panthers own a 4.34 ERA with 135 hits, 93 strikeouts and 47 walks. The staff has allowed just one home run and 71 runs scored in 118.1 innings.  

Individually, junior Walter Diaz leads the Bulls with a .383 batting average, closely followed by sophomore Addison Maruszak and junior Brandin Daniel at .381 and .377, respectively. Diaz is a team leader in runs (25), hits (31), doubles (8) and stolen bases (7-9). Maruszak has 24 hits, 17 runs scored and 16 RBI while Daniel leads the team in RBI with 27, from 26 hits, two of which were home runs.  

Right hander Danny Otero will be USF’s Friday-night starter, followed by RHP Daniel Thomas on Saturday and righty Chris Delaney on Sunday. In 36.0 innings, Otero is 3-3 with a 3.25 ERA. His 24 Ks are second on the team.

Thomas (2-1) owns a 1.33 ERA in four appearances. He has struck out 22 while walking eight and allowing three earned runs. Delaney is 3-0 this season, making five appearances, starting four. In 23.2 innings, he has 22 strikeouts, but has allowed 13 earned runs for a 4.94 ERA.  

In 10 appearances, senior RHP Yuri Higgins, who is 2-1 with one save, leads the Bulls with 26 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.  

The Panthers are led by Gary Bucuren’s .400 batting average, which includes a team-high 20 hits in 50 at bats. He also leads UP with 12 RBI and 29 total bases. Seth Button’s 17 hits and 11 RBI are second on the team, and his 29 total bases tie Bucuren’s for team-high.  

Nate Reed (3.65 ERA), Paul Nardozzi (4.57 ERA) and Rob Brant (7.71 ERA) have started at least three games this season for the Panthers, collectively posting a 3-6 record. Nardozzi has struck out a team-high 22 opponents while walking just seven. Brant has 18 Ks and allowed 26 hits while Reed has 15 strikeouts and 28 hits.  

Another top player for the Panthers, Kyle Landis (1-1) owns a 0.46 ERA in five appearances,  tallying 17 strikeouts, 16 hits and just one earned run in 19.2 innings.  

After the three-game series with Pittsburgh, USF hosts North Florida on Tuesday, March 20 at 6 p.m., then travels to Indiana to play 2006 BIG EAST Champion Notre Dame March 23-25.