Todd Brazeal Hit A Three-Run Homer In The Third Inning

By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 28, 2010
Updated: 02:00 am

CLEARWATER - If there had been more games like Thursday's for the USF baseball team, the Bulls' postseason hopes might not rest on having to win the Big East Conference Tournament.

The Bulls got another solid outing by their starting pitcher, played sharp defense, and perhaps most importantly, the lineup produced the way Coach Lelo Prado envisioned.

The leader of the pack was first baseman Todd Brazeal, whose three-run homer in the third inning sparked USF (26-31) to a 10-5 victory against West Virginia (27-30) in the second round of the tournament and helped keep USF's season alive.

The Bulls will play Louisville tonight at 7.

"That's what we expected out of him, and we haven't gotten it," Prado said. "We're happy. We'll see if we can carry it over."

While the offense pounded out 12 hits after Prado moved Stephen Hunt into the leadoff spot and inserted catcher Andrew Longley and outfielder Sean Buckley into the lineup, Bulls starter Andrew Barbosa made sure the offensive tweaks didn't go to waste.

Barbosa pitched seven innings, striking out eight and walking two. Barbosa struck out five consecutive batters over the third and fourth innings.

"This could have been our last game," said Barbosa, who avoided the fate of starter Randy Fontanez on Wednesday. Fontanez pitched eight stellar innings but lost to St. John's as the Bulls managed only five hits. "When (Todd) hit that three-run homer, I got to settle down and go out there and just do what I have to do."

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