The two combined for 14 stikeouts and gave up only three runs. Defense highlighted the game as well, making coach Eddie Cardieri sorry to see this game end.
“When the score was 2-1,” Cardieri said, “all I could think about was it’s a shame someone has to win this game. I hoped it would be us.
“Tonight you saw two artists at work. Casey and Korpi, they were just artists out there, as well they could pitch out there.”
Josh LeRoy, who went 2-for-3 in the game with the only RBI for USF, said Korpi had a “changeup you couldn’t hit.”
The Bulls couldn’t finish on chances, espeically once Kyle Weiland came in to save the game.
“Weiland has 15 saves," Cardieri said, "so that says enough right there. When they give the game to him, they have a heck of a chance.
“Casey definitely gave a chance to win, and you can’t take anything away from Notre Dame. They’re a great club, and it’s obvious that their starting pitching is very good.”
The Bulls will now face St. John’s on Wednesday, with Davis Billardello ready to make the start. The sophomore has 53 stikeouts and a 4.52 ERA. Cardieri said he wasn’t sure of the starter for the Red Storm, but the lineup will be much the same, except if they face a right-hander, Matt McHargue and Ty Taborelli will make starts.
However, later it was announced that right-hander Rob Delaney would make the start with his 6-3 record, 75 strikeouts and 3.84 ERA.
In the regular season, St. John’s won two of three games over USF, including a 19-0 pounding on May 13.
The Bulls hung with the No. 19 team in the county Tuesday night, one looking to make the NCAA Tournament even without winning the automatic Big East big. Cardieri said he wouldn’t be surprised that this “stacked team” made it to Omaha next month.
Added Hudspeth, “It’s always frustrating, especially hanging in with a team like that and being a big underdog and having a chance to upset them.”
After the press conference, you could tell this game got to Cardieri. He was adamant throughout most of the game, especially on a double-play call at first. He was jawing through most of the arguable pitches, which may surprise some that the 21-year coach has not been tossed from a single game this season.
“It’s just one of those things where there’s no such thing as a moral victory,” Cardieri said. “To me, we played them great; we played them tough. They’re one of the best teams in the country, yet we still had chances to beat them.”
Kevin Smetana and Mike Camunas
No comments:
Post a Comment