USF Tops Florida For Second Straight Night
By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com
Published: May 12, 2005
TAMPA - South Florida junior Brian Baisley pounded Florida pitching for a second consecutive night, and the Bulls kept their NCAA Tournament at-large hopes alive with an 11-5 victory against the No. 11 Gators on Wednesday.
After needing three eighth- inning runs to rally for an 8-7 victory Tuesday in Gainesville, the Bulls scored seven first-inning runs Wednesday and never looked back.
It's the first time since 1994 the Bulls defeated the Gators on consecutive nights.
``These two games were big to get to the NCAA Tournament,'' Baisley said. ``[Monday] night was huge, and this one was icing on the cake.''
Baisley was 7-for-9 against UF, including three hits and an RBI Wednesday before 1,078 fans at Red McEwen Field.
First baseman Justin Daniel (3-for-5, 1 RBI), second baseman Joey Angelberger (2-for-5, 2 RBIs), third baseman Jeff Baisley (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and right fielder Bryan Hierlmeier (2-for-4, 1 RBI) also had multihit games for USF.
``[Wednesday] was not a masterpiece by any means,'' USF coach Eddie Cardieri said. ``I lost count when we walked our 12th guy.''
The Bulls (29-25) led 8-2 through four. The Gators, behind Mike Pete's five effective innings of relief, closed within 8-5 before the Bulls added two runs in the seventh.
``Florida never quits and at 8-5, you just don't know,'' Cardieri said. ``You're saying, `Wait a minute, we can't blow this lead we had after the way the game started.' But we hung on.''
The Gators (32-17), who have lost six of seven, committed four errors. Second baseman Adam Davis had three of UF's seven hits, including his 10th homer.
``If [our] RPI can get in the 40s, that's going to enhance our chances,'' said Cardieri, whose club entered the game with a No. 56 RPI. ``If we can go into the Conference USA Tournament with 33 or 34 wins and win a couple, that will enhance our chances. If we can win eight of our last 10, we're going to have a shot.''
The Bulls, who have won three consecutive games, visit Southern Miss this weekend for three games and Stetson on Tuesday. USF closes the regular season at home against Cincinnati May 19-21.
Information from Tribune wires was used in this report.
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