USF pitcher out for season with shoulder injury

The USF baseball team announced Wednesday that left-handed pitcher Blake Tillett will miss the entire 2006 season following shoulder surgery, which he underwent earlier this week.

Tillett, 20, posted a 4-2 record and a 5.72 ERA in 15 appearances in 2005, accumulating 30 strikeouts.

The sophomore also made 10 starts, but as coach Eddie Cardieri pointed out Wednesday, Tillett will be missed on the pitching staff.

“With Tillett out, this now gives us 100 innings we have to give to somebody else,” Cardieri said. “A guy would have been protected (from exhausting his arm) before the year started, and since he can’t, it’s giving several other guys more of a chance to pitch.”

Tillett will take a redshirt this season, giving him three years of eligibility.