Here is your Big East Recap for March 22nd.
Cincinnati 9 Pittsburgh 5
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team used four home runs to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 9-5 in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Trees Field. The win upped UC’s record to 10-8 overall and 1-2 in the BIG EAST, while Pittsburgh fell to 11-6 overall and 2-1 in the BIG EAST.
The Bearcats struck quickly with three runs in the first inning. Junior Jamel Scott (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) drew a one-out walk, before advancing to second base on a passed ball. Senior Mike Spina (Newberry, Fla./Newberry) put UC in front with a two-run home run, his 10th of the season, pushing the Bearcats in front, 2-0. With two outs, sophomore Justin Riddell (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) and junior Beach Brooks (Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven) collected back-to-back singles, before a senior Cameron Satterwhite (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) double plated Riddell, increasing the UC margin to 3-0.
Cincinnati Recap
Pittsburgh Recap
Louisville 16 Georgetown 6
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Led by home runs from Jeff Arnold, Chris Dominguez and Josh Richmond, the University of Louisville baseball team finished with 16 total hits and eight extra base hits to clinch their first BIG EAST series of the season with Sunday’s 16-6 win over Georgetown at Jim Patterson Stadium.
A day after Saturday’s tough 5-4 loss to the Hoyas, the Cardinals (14-6, 2-1 BIG EAST) made sure Sunday’s game would not be in question with an impressive day at the plate, led by Arnold, Dominguez, Richmond and Phil Wunderlich. Arnold had his best game of the season at the plate going 3-for-5 overall with a career-high five RBI, two runs scored and his first home run of 2009.
Dominguez continued his hot hitting with a 4-for-4 day from the plate, including his second home run in two days and his seventh of the season, three RBI and four runs scored. He also extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games and is now the Cards’ leading hitter with a .400 average overall (30-of-75).
Louisville Recap
Georgetown Recap
South Florida 10 Rutgers 5
TAMPA – The University of South Florida earned its second-consecutive BIG EAST Conference sweep with a 10-5 victory over Rutgers Sunday afternoon at Red McEwen Field.
“They really did a great job all weekend offensively. Every time Rutgers got close we gained some back. It was a great performance. We can build on this and keep the momentum going,” said head coach Lelo Prado
Added to this weekend’s three-game sweep against Rutgers, the Bulls ended the 2008 season with three wins over Notre Dame May 15-17, the Bulls’ first BIG EAST sweep in the Coach Prado era.
With today’s win, USF has now won nine of the last 11 BIG EAST home games, dating back to the series with Louisville on April 13, 2008.
South Florida Recap
Rutgers Recap
Seton Hall 11 Notre Dame 4
NOTRE DAME, IND. — Sophomore starter Joe DiRocco (East Hanover, N.J.) (2-1) tossed seven scoreless innings allowing only four hits while senior Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle as Seton Hall defeated Notre Dame, 11-4, to win the three-game series in Notre Dame Sunday afternoon. For the series, the Pirates batted .440 (22-for-50) with two-outs scoring 19 two-out runs.
Seton Hall (10-7, 2-1) broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. Junior Michael Rogers (Portland, Ore.) led off with a walk and stole second base. Irish starter Eric Maust proceeded to strike out the next two batters, however the Pirates two-out magic carried over from yesterday as junior Bobby Abreu (Piscataway, N.J.) reached on an infield single and sophomore A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.) ripped an RBI single for a, 1-0, lead.
After Abreu gave the Hall a, 3-0, lead with a two-out two-run single to center field in the top of the fourth inning, the Pirates added more insurance in the fifth.
Seton Hall Recap
Notre Dame Recap
St. John’s 10 Villanova 3
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John’s baseball team defeated Villanova, 10-3, to sweep its opening BIG EAST series for the second-straight year. Matt Wessinger had three RBI, while Jimmy Parque and Danny Benedetti had two hits and two RBI each to lead St. John’s (11-7, 3-0). Nick Cenatiempo (1-1) earned the win, allowing one run in 3.1 innings. Dain Hall had two RBI to pace Villanova (10-9, 0-3).
St. John’s took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after just two batters. Following a Brian Kemp triple to right center, Wessinger had an RBI groundout to put the Red Storm on the board.
With a three-run third, the Red Storm jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Joe Panik was plunked to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice moved Panik to second, Matias walked and Kemp was also plunked to load the bases. Panik then scored on a passed ball before a two-run single by Wessinger into left field.
After Red Storm starter Kevin Kilpatrick had retired 14 of 15 batters, Villanova responded in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs. After two quick outs, Marlon Calbi and Matt Szczur both singled. Joe Rosati was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Hall followed with a two-run single to left field that chased Kilpatrick.
St. John’s Recap
Villanova Recap
West Virginia 7 UConn 4
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