March 1, 2008

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - South Florida scored three times in the eighth inning and then held off a Northwestern rally in the ninth as the Bulls escaped with a 9-8 victory over the Wildcats Saturday evening at Red McEwen Field.

The loss drops Northwestern to 3-3 on the season while South Florida improves to 3-2.

Coming right back after an emotional 14-12 10-inning win over No. 21 Oklahoma State, the Wildcats got on the board first in the top of the third inning. Aaron Newman and Jake Goebbert each drove in runs with sacrifice flies in the frame.

South Florida rallied back to score four times in the fourth inning to take the lead and then added two more in the fifth to take a 6-2 advantage.

However, the Wildcats continued swinging hot bats like they have all season, putting up five big runs in the top of the sixth to surge ahead 7-6.

Jake Owens started the rally with a single and then advanced to third following a stolen base and the ensuing throwing error. Following a walk by Goebbert, the white-hot Mike Kalina singled home Owens. After a fielder's choice, Chris Lashmet was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nate Roberts then continued the blazing start to his collegiate career by ripping a two-run single to left.

Tony Vercelli would later contribute NU's third sac fly of the game before Jake Wilson gave the Wildcats the lead with an RBI single to right.

The 7-6 Northwestern edge held up until South Florida pushed across three runs in the bottom of the eighth. After yet another sacrifice fly tied the game, Ryan Lockwood hit a two-run single to right to put the Bulls up 9-7.

The Wildcats refused to go quietly in the ninth as Wilson was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He advanced to second and then came around to score on a single to right by Owens to get NU within 9-8. The rally came up short, though, as Owens was thrown out trying to steal and Shawn Sanford recorded a strikeout to secure the save.

Bo Schultz (2-1) took the loss for Northwestern, while Derrick Stultz (1-1) got the win for USF. Owens paced the Wildcats with three hits on his 22nd birthday, while Kalina, Lashmet and Wilson added two apiece.

Northwestern returns to action next Friday when it opens a three-game series at Louisville.