Bulls rally in ninth to beat Notre Dame, 5-4

USF coach Lelo Prado hopes his team can finish its season the same way they did Thursday's game against Notre Dame. The Bulls rallied for three runs in the ninth, pulling out a 5-4 victory that has them within one win of clinching a spot in next week's Big East tournament in Clearwater.

"If they can't get excited now, they don't need to be playing baseball," Prado said. "That's a great win right there. In baseball, crazy things happen. You get a little momentum. It's a great time to be hot right now."

Down 4-2 in the ninth, the Bulls got doubles from Mike Consolmagno and Trey Manz to pull within a run, then saw Joey Angelberger and Addison Maruszak hit by pitches to load the bases. Stephen Hunt's one-out chopper to second would have scored the tying run by itself, but Jeremy Barnes' throw sailed over first base, allowing the winning run to score.

USF (27-25, 12-13) is seventh in the Big East standings, ahead of Villanova (11-14) and Rutgers (10-14). A win tonight against Notre Dame or a Rutgers loss clinches a tournament berth for the Bulls. In beating St. John's on Sunday and Notre Dame on Thursday, the Bulls have beaten the top two teams in the conference standings in their last two league games.

Comments

[G.A.]

My goal here is simply not to have every single comment. Here goes ...

Don't worry about injured star Ryan Lockwood getting in the game as a pinch-runner. He's not on USF's 25-man roster for the weekend, so he'll watch from the dugout, his 30-game hitting streak safe by any interpretation.

An update on Bulls starter Daniel Thomas: he's tossed 74 pitches in three innings, to where USF will be lucky to get him through five innings. So the pressure will be on USF's bullpen in what has been a tight game.

[G.A.]

Joey Angelberger led off the third with a solo homer to left, his team-best eighth of the season, so it's 2-2 in the third.

[G.A.]

Hall of Famer Wade Boggs is here in the press box, providing the color commentary for Catch 47's live TV broadcast. Even stronger than that, Catch 47 has a headset in the dugout, so Lelo Prado just did a midgame interview. I suppose it's like a football coach taking a question coming off the field at halftime, but not something you see too often ...

[G.A.]

Two years ago when the Big East tournament was in Clearwater, it was cool to be able to see Notre Dame receiver Jeff Samardzija pitch for the Irish. Now, of course, Samardzija has dropped football and pitches in the Cubs system.

Notre Dame first baseman Evan Sharpley -- yes, I've already done the "Sharpley-hit ball to left" shtick -- is also Notre Dame quarterback Evan Sharpley. He'll be Jimmy Clausen's backup this fall, but threw for 736 yards and five touchdowns last fall.

Still 2-2 here. Still no non-Greg comments. Disappointing ...

[Astro]

Helping you out Greg. Go Bulls!

[G.A.]

Speaking of Evan Sharpley ... USF starter Daniel Thomas' 98th pitch was launched by Sharpley over the left-center wall for a 2-run home run, giving Notre Dame a 4-2 lead in the fifth.

[G.A.]

Astro! Woohoo! I was getting to feel like the kid on the ham radio in his basement talking to nobody.

[Astro]

I figured you would appreciate the help. USF going with the milkman look tonight.

[Growling Bull]

Greg: are you taking Football questions? :)

What do you hear about Leavitt's dining hall finally coming to fruition?

[G.A.]

Growling, I know the plan was to have the dining hall built onto one side of a grand new Sun Dome. Not sure whether those plans have changed or not. USF has to figure out what to do with the Sun Dome, whether a practice facility would be freestanding or adjoining the Dome, etc. Lots of questions, so the dining facility gets caught up in all of that.

[G.A.]

I'm not a fan of the white-top, white-pants uniforms. Milkman describes it well. I was going to make a cricket reference -- just for my overseas readers -- but think I like yours better.

[G.A.]

To resume the game-update portion of today's blog: Bulls get out of a jam in the seventh on a great defensive play by third baseman Charles Cleveland. Runner on third, one out, Cleveland snares a line drive, then beats the runner to the base to end the inning.

[G.A.]

Starter Daniel Thomas is out after seven innings -- and 135 pitches -- and reliever David Torcise (pronounced tour-EE-cee) is in, as the Bulls trail 4-2 in the eighth.

[G.A.]

I should point out that tonight is Daniel Thomas' longest outing of the season at seven innings. The eight hits is one off a season high -- in his last three starts, he's allowed seven, nine and eight, this after not allowing more than seven in any of his first eight starts.

[G.A.]

Bulls are down to their last three outs, down 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth. Due up? No. 9 hitter Jonathan Koscso, who is 3-for-3, then Mike Consolmagno and Trey Manz, unless Lelo Prado opts for a pinch-hitter.

[G.A.]

Consolmagno hits a one-out double down the left-field line. Tying run at the plate in Trey Manz ...

[G.A.]

Manz rips a double to left-center, scoring Consolmagno to cut the Notre Dame lead to 4-3 with one out in the ninth. Joey Angelberger, like Consolmagno one of four seniors playing in his final home series, is now up.

[G.A.]

Angelberger hit by pitch, putting the winning run on base for Addison Maruszak.

[G.A.]

Notre Dame's Kyle Weiland hits Maruszak, loading the bases for freshman Stephen Hunt.

[G.A.]

Wow. Stephen Hunt hits a one-out chopper to second, so the tying run is already going to score, but Jeremy Barnes' throw to first sailed high, allowing to Bulls to pull out a 5-4 win.

Lots more to come ...

[Reality]

Sounded like a great game, what kind of attendance was out there tonight?

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Greg..

I was at the bar... sorry boss.

[Brendan in Tokyo]

GO BULLS!!!!

[Mike Lakeland]

Thanks for the update, Mr. Auman!

Will you bet at tonight's game?

[Mike Lakeland]

whoops, sorry for the Pete Rose Freudian slip.

I meant, will you BE AT tonight's game?

Thanks!

[G.A.]

I can't make tonight's game -- family in town. Perhaps Saturday.