TUCSON, Ariz. (March 3, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team dropped its first game of the Hillenbrand Invitational to Wichita State, 2-1, on Friday in Tucson, Ariz.
USF (10-8) was held to only two hits in the game by Wichita State starter Margo Pruis, who picked up a complete-game victory in which she struck out six USF batters.
Bulls' pitcher Bree Spence (4-1) was credited with her first loss of the year, scattering five hits while walking one in five innings of work.
Wichita State (10-6) jumped out to the early lead with one swing of the bat, as Christina Rios hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Shockers a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning.
The Bulls returned the favor to Wichita State, cutting the lead down one run, 2-1, thanks to a Tiffany Stewart homer run to right field. The single shot was the senior's second of the year and the 18th of her career.
USF couldn't get anything going in the late innings to make a rally, only getting one base runner on due to an error and leaving her stranded in the sixth inning.
The Bulls will face Sam Houston State at 3 p.m. in USF's second game of the tournament.
