TAMPA, Fla. (March 1, 2006) ?  The University of South Florida softball team lost to the University of Florida, 2-0, at the USF Softball Field Wednesday afternoon, dropping the Bulls record to 0-2 against its in-state rival this season.

Freshman Cristi Ecks (4-5) had a solid outing for the Bulls, getting the start and only allowing four hits while striking out five. Neither of the runs the Gators scored were earned. Her counterpart, Stacey Stevens (4-1), gave up six hits and struck out four, but she had the run support that led the team to the victory.

Florida (12-5) scored the only runs it needed in the top of the fourth inning, capitalizing on a USF mistake. After runners got on first and second due to an error and a base hit, back-to-back RBI singles by Lauren Roussell and Lacy Howard put Florida up 2-0.

The Bulls (10-7) tried to get a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't get its bats going at the right time, stranding two base runners for the second-straight inning. USF tallied six hits and two walks in the game but struggled when it mattered most, stranding eight runners and being held scoreless in the game. 

USF will travel to Tucson, Ariz., Friday through Sunday to play in the Hillenbrand Invitational hosted by the University of Arizona. On Friday, the Bulls will face Wichita State at 1 p.m. and Sam Houston State at 3 p.m. Saturday's action will feature USF against Long Beach State at 11 a.m. and against No. 1 Arizona at 7 p.m. Sunday's play will be determined by the previous day's action.