Louisville@USF (if rain stays away)

Posted Apr 20, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Apr 20, 2012 at 10:11 AM

The University of South Florida baseball team (26-12, 10-2 Big East Conference) begins a big home three-game series tonight against the Louisville Cardinals (26-11, 8-4)—and, of course, it’s all contingent on the predicted rain staying away. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday night’s game is set for 6 and Sunday afternoon’s finale is at 1.

Tonight, the Bulls are expected to start ace LHP Andrew Barbosa (4-3, 2.30), who is tied for the Big East lead in ERA and leads the league in strikeouts (62).

Here are the current Big East standings for teams at .500 or better in the conference:

* USF 10-2 (26-12)

* Connecticut 9-3 (21-16)

* Louisville 8-4 (26-11)

* St. John’s 8-4 (22-15)

* Rutgers 7-5 (21-15)

* Seton Hall 7-5 (20-16)

* Notre Dame 6-6 (19-16)

USF also has a three-game home set against Connecticut on May 11-13.

The Bulls are in position to claim their first regular-season championship in baseball since winning Conference USA in 1996.

But as USF coach Lelo Prado himself said, “There’s a lot of baseball still to be played.’’ If the weather cooperates, the Bulls begin a critical stretch tonight.