Saturday, March 11, 2006

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The University of Saint Francis baseball team defeated Georgetown College (Ky.) 5-4 Saturday, winning its season opener for the first time since 2003. Pitcher Cody Casagrande earned the victory with eight innings of work, allowing three runs with five strikeouts and just one walk.

“[Casagrande’s] pitch count was low and he threw the ball really well,” USF first-year head coach Gary Roberts said. “I also am pretty happy with how we played defensively and those were the two keys to the game.”

Senior Andy Papagiannis, making his Cougar baseball debut after starring four years on the USF gridiron as a wideout, collected two hits, including a double. Josh Widman tripled and had two RBI while Mickey Cassidy and Jay Bidlack each finished with a two-base hit and an RBI for the Cougars (1-0).

Bidlack picked up the save (1), allowing a single run in the ninth.

The Cougars return to the diamond tomorrow in a twin bill against Tiffin University (Ohio). First pitch in the opener is slated for 11 a.m.

-- GO USF --