Sweep: Streaking Bulls beat Irish again

I interviewed USF shortstop Addison Maruszak on Wednesday, and I didn't run this quote in the story that ran Thursday because it seemed too pie-in-the-sky for a team that hadn't swept any Big East opponent in Lelo Prado's two seasons with the Bulls.

"If we sweep this weekend, we carry a lot of momentum into the tournament," Maruszak said. "Right now, we're worried about one game at a time, but hopefully we can come out with a sweep this weekend."

USF is picking the right time to play its best baseball, as the Bulls got their first Big East sweep of the season, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to beat Notre Dame 9-8 on Saturday.

The Bulls (29-25) finish 14-13 in Big East play, and because West Virginia lost 14-9 on Saturday to Cincinnati, the Mountaineers finish 13-14 in the conference, so USF is the sixth seed in the Big East tournament, which starts Tuesday in Clearwater.

It's USF's first conference sweep in two seasons under coach Lelo Prado, and the Bulls' first since a sweep of Seton Hall in 2006. The Bulls should get a fourth shot at Notre Dame on Tuesday, as the standings show USF will play the Fighting Irish in the opening round at 8 p.m.

USF used former closer Shawn Sanford in a rare start Saturday, and Notre Dame tagged him for seven runs -- two earned -- in the first three innings. The Bulls rallied back with six runs in the fifth, including a three-run home run by Joey Angelberger, his fourth home run in four games, and a two-run shot from Brian Hobbs.

The game was tied in the eighth inning when the Bulls came up with a run in much the same way they scored the game-winner in the 16th inning Friday night. Maruszak was hit by a pitch to open the inning -- extending USF's school record and nation-leading total -- and he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stephen Hunt. Maruszak got to third on a groundout by Brian Hobbs, and then freshman Junior Carlin, who had the game-winning RBI on Friday, hit a single to bring in the go-ahead run.

Comments

[Ken]

Go Bulls. Notre Dame is next (again)?

[jarred]

This is good and bad. Great that we swept but now, as Greg stated earlier, we have to beat the same team foru times in six days. What was prado thinking starting Sanford? He struggles to get six outs to close the game and they expect him to start? Im baffled.

[Eddie]

Very smart move!! We saved our #3 pitcher for Tuesday night. Whoever he would have started would not have been ready for Tues!

[G.A.]

Just a guess for now, but I'd think Daniel Thomas gets the start Tuesday, which would allow him to come back and start in the championship game. Fontanez and Stultz would be ready for Wednesday -- one could come in relief if necessary on Tuesday.

[Ken]

Surely, he started someone who he hoped would be decent but who wouldn't harm the effort in the tourney.

[G.A.]

Just to update: Derrick Stultz gets the start Tuesday with a fresh arm, giving Daniel Thomas an extra day of rest after his longest outing of the season.