TAMPA, Fla. (March 17, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team split games in day one of the Speedline Invitational, winning 12-2 against George Mason and losing to Purdue, 5-0, on Friday at the Greco Softball Complex in Tampa, Fla.
In game one, George Mason got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead. After a double put a runner at second base, Amanda Bach bunted to move the runner over. Ashley Bullion fielded the ball and overthrew Britta Giddens for the out, scoring the runner from second base.
The Bulls (19-15) loaded up the bases in the first inning and capitalized, scoring two runs off a double to right field by Krista Holle. With runners still at second and third with one out, Bullion came up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Tiffany Stewart to cross home plate and give USF a 3-1 lead.
The Patriots (0-21) cut USF's lead down to one run in the third inning, 3-2, benefiting from another USF throwing error, causing the run to score unearned.
In the bottom of the third inning, three-consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Bulls with no outs. USF scored three runs off singles by Jessica Landau, Laura Wolf and Carly Griffin and scored another run off an error by George Mason's third baseman. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Stewart hit a grand slam home run to straight-away centerfield, putting the Bulls up 12-2.
Danielle Urbanik (2-0) was credited with the win, only allowing three hits while striking out three batters in five innings of work.
In game two, Purdue (17-14) got a run on the board, 1-0, thanks to a fielding error by USF, causing the run to score unearned.
Purdue struck again in the fifth inning, taking a 3-0 lead thanks to a DaQueta Johnson two-run homer to centerfield.
USF had its best scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting two runners on base with no out. The Bulls couldn't take advantage as they got three-straight outs to remain scoreless in the game.
In total, the Bulls had five runners on base and stranded them and committed four errors.
Purdue's Diana LaRiva threw a complete game, only allowing three hits while shutting out USF.
Cristi Ecks was credited with the loss, giving up four hits and three runs, only two of which were earned.
USF will look to get back on the winning track when it concludes pool play against Ohio on Saturday at 11 a.m. After the 1 p.m. games conclude, the teams will be broken up into brackets depending on seeding.
