Day 2: St. John's vs. USF

CLEARWATER — A day after a hard-fought 3-1 loss to Notre Dame, USF is less than an hour away from possibly playing its final game of the season. The Bulls will go up against St. John’s, which lost its first game of the Big East Tournament to West Virginia.

The winner of the second-round match up between the eighth-seeded Bulls and the fourth-seeded Red Storm will go on to play the loser of the West Virginia, Notre Dame game, while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.

If USF fails to advance to a third game, it would be the last game for several Bulls. Coach Eddie Cardieri’s Bulls have three regulars, who are seniors — left fielder Kris Howell, catcher Brian Baisley and designated hitter Matt McHargue. Baisley has the best chance of the three seniors to be drafted in the Majors.

There are also a few other possible exits that may take place once the Bulls’ season ends. There is a good chance that junior pitchers Casey Hudspeth and Chase Lirette may leave school early to enter the draft.

Hudspeth had already been drafted out of high school by the Devil Rays, offered extensive money to sign, but by some strange turn of events, missed the phone call from the front office. Don’t expect him to pass up money a second time.

And then there’s the possibility of Cardieri not returning. The 21-year coach has not received an extension on his contract, which runs out after this season.

But the Bulls will try to avoid thinking about all of the changes that may occur by beating St. John’s today. Sophomore Davis Bilardello will take the mound for USF. Bilardello is 1-7 with a 4.52 ERA. Bilardello suffered a loss on May 14 in a 4-3 loss to St. John’s.

Kevin Smetana and Mike Camunas