FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Backed behind the first no-hitter in BIG EAST baseball in nearly three years, USF swept the latest installment of BIG EAST Weekly Baseball awards. Junior Randy Fontanez earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week recognition, while classmate Jonathan Koscso was named BIG EAST Player of the Week.
Fontanez threw a complete game no-hit shutout in the Bulls’ BIG EAST opener against Notre Dame on March 26. He recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowing just a pair of walks in the 4-0 win over the Irish. The no-hitter was the first at USF since Mark Reed threw a perfect game against Charlotte in 1992, and third in program history. It also was the first BIG EAST no-hitter since Scott Barnes of St. John’s reached the feat against Georgetown on April 20, 2007. In total, of his 119 pitches, 80 were strikes.
Koscso led the Bulls to a perfect 4-0 record last week. Playing errorless ball at shortstop, Koscso hit .500 in four games, going for 8-for-16. In the conference opener against Notre Dame on March 26, the junior homered in his first at-bat to give the Bulls all the run support they would need. Koscso drove in seven runs on the week and hit .571 with runners in scoring position. He had an on-base percentage of .579 and tallied an .813 slugging percentage.
Honor Roll
Matt Barnes, Connecticut, So., RHP
1-0, 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 9 SO, 2 BB, Team: 3-2
Joe DiRocco, Seton Hall, Jr., RHP
1-0, 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB, Team: 2-2
Danny Lopez, Pittsburgh, Sr., SS
6-11, .545 AVG, 6 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR, Team: 4-0
Steve Nyisztor, Rutgers, Fr., 2B
6-16, .375 AVG, 6 R, 6 RBI, 2 2B, 1 HR, Team: 4-0
Thomas Royse, Louisville, Jr., RHP
1-0, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 11 SO, 2 BB, Team: 3-1
The BIG EAST is the largest and most diverse Division I conference in the country. It was formed in 1979 and represents the athletic interests of 16 member institutions including the University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut, DePaul University, Georgetown University, University of Louisville, Marquette University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Providence College, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, University of South Florida, Syracuse University, Villanova University and West Virginia University. The BIG EAST Conference has captured 27 national championships in six different sports and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series. For more information on the Conference and its membership, please visit www.bigeast.org.
