LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 15, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team continued its undefeated streak in BIG EAST play, defeating No. 18 Louisville, 2-1, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at Ulmer Field in Louisville, Ky.
The wins against the Cardinals marked the first time this season the Bulls have defeated a ranked opponent.
In game one, Louisville (26-7, 5-3 BIG EAST) got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Michelle Vasquez led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt. A passed ball put Vasquez at third and Leslie Garland drove her home off a single to shallow right field.
The Bulls (38-19, 8-0 BIG EAST) got their bats going in the fourth inning and tied up the game, 1-1. Back-to-back singles by Samantha Ray and Christie Chapman put USF's first base runners on in the game. With two outs on the board, Krista Holle knocked in the equalizer with a single up the middle.
With the game still tied going into the top of the seventh inning USF made its move, scoring the go-ahead run, 2-1. After Tiffany Stewart used a bunt single to get on base, she advanced to third thanks to a Holle sac bunt. Coming up to bat with two outs, freshman Ashley Bullion came up big and hit a slow roller to the first baseman, causing a bang-bang play at first in which Bullion was safe and Stewart scored the go-ahead run.
Louisville had a chance to come back in the bottom of the seventh, getting a runner on with two outs. Cristi Ecks came in the game in relief of Bree Spence to get the final out and picked up her second save, causing Vasquez to ground out to end the game, 2-1, in USF's favor.
Spence (17-6) had a solid outing in the circle, allowing one run on six hits, striking out three while not allowing a walk.
Spence's counterpart, Catherine Bishop (17-3), had a solid outing as well, scattering five hits while striking out eight USF batters in the loss.
In game two, the game remained scoreless for the first four innings, as both teams couldn't bring a run home.
With one swing of the bat the Bulls put an end to the scoreless tie in the fifth inning, as Britta Giddens hit a three-run homer over the left-field fence, 3-0. USF added another run to its lead in the inning after Ray singled and scored thanks to a Holle RBI double, giving USF a 4-0 lead.
Starter Ecks and reliever Kasey Cash combined for the shutout win for USF. Ecks pitched five and two-thirds innings, scattering six hits, striking out seven and not allowing a walk. Cash came into the game in the sixth inning and didn't allow a hit or walk in her one and one-third innings of work.
The Bulls will return home on Friday to welcome BIG EAST foe Pittsburgh to the USF Softball Field. The first game of the doubleheader is slated to start at 2 p.m.
