TAMPA, Fla. (March 31, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team opened up its first BIG EAST series by posting consecutive wins against Seton Hall, 5-3, 5-2, on Friday afternoon at the USF Softball Field.
“It's exciting going 2-0 in the BIG EAST,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “We've been looking forward to getting into this conference for a long time and to come out ahead against a pretty good team in Seton Hall in which we battled pretty hard. I think we need to be enjoying of the wins to date and we need to try to get better tomorrow.”
In game one, Seton Hall (16-18, 0-6) got on the board first, taking a small lead, 1-0, in the third inning. After loading up the bases with one out, the Pirates' Danielle Steinseifzer hit a sacrifice fly to right field, putting the first run on the board.
USF (30-18, 2-0) got its offense going in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying up the game and then taking the lead. Samantha Ray led off the inning with a double and a sac bunt by Christie Chapman moved her to third. Tiffany Stewart drew a walk, putting runners at the corners for Krista Holle, who laid down a bunt for a RBI single. With two runners on and one out, back-to-back RBI singles by Carly Griffin and Ashley Bullion, along with a run-scoring groundout by Sarah Watson, gave USF the 4-0 advantage.
The Pirates ended the USF shutout and made a comeback, cutting the lead down to one run, 4-3, in the sixth inning. Misplays hurt the Bulls, giving Seton Hall two free base runners with no outs. Krista Holle looked to get USF out of the inning, turning a double play to only allow Seton Hall one out to work with. However, the Pirates took advantage, knocking in two runs off a chopper over the pitcher's head for a single.
The Bulls put an insurance run on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, 5-3. Griffin led off the inning with a base-hit and advanced to second on a groundout. Watson came up to bat and hit the ball down the left line, driving in her second run of the game.
Cristi Ecks (13-9) picked up the first BIG EAST win for the Bulls, scattering four hits while walking two batters. In six innings of work, the freshman struck out 10 while only being charge with one earned run.
Bree Spence was credited with her second save of the season, coming into the game in the top of the seventh and closing it out with a scoreless inning.
In game two, USF opened up the scoring in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Stewart led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a grounder. With two outs on the board, Griffin singled to left field, scoring Stewart from second base.
Seton Hall jumped ahead in the third inning, scoring two runs for a 2-1 lead. Four consecutive two-out singles by the Pirates drove in the two runs needed to take control of the game.
After Seton Hall took advantage of USF misplays in the first game, the Bulls did the same in game two, as they scored three runs thanks to an error by the second baseman and the pitcher, 4-2.
The Bulls made it a three-run game for Seton Hall in the fifth inning, 5-2, when Griffin knocked in her second run of the game off a double to centerfield, which scored Holle from first base.
After earning a save in game one, Spence (12-6) picked up the win, allowing two runs ? none were earned ? on seven hits in four and two-third innings of work.
Nicole Christensen picked up her first save of the year, coming into the game in the in the sixth inning and keeping the game scoreless while allowing only one hit.
The Bulls will look to continue their winning way in conference play when they host St. John's on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the USF Softball Field.
