TAMPA, Fla. (April 2, 2006) ? After winning its first game of the day, 2-0, Carly Griffin hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the University of South Florida softball team to its second-straight BIG EAST series sweep with a 3-2 win over St. John's on Sunday afternoon at the USF Softball Field.
“It was a great win for the girls,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “They persevered through a lot of tough at bats and through a lot of tough St. John's pitchers. But they did a great job, and it's nice to get off to a great start in the conference, 4-0.”
In game two, St. John's would take a one-run lead and USF would answer back, tying up the game twice.
The Red Storm jumped out to the 1-0 lead after taking advantage of a bases-loaded situation in the third inning when Danielle Estrada sacrifice fly to centerfield.
USF tied up the game, 1-1, in the fourth inning thanks to a defensive misplay. A Krista Holle single and a walk by Griffin put runners on with two outs. Ashley Bullion came up to bat and hit a grounder to the second baseman, who let the ball roll underneath her and into right field, scoring the tying run for the Bulls.
In extra innings, the Red Storm quickly loaded up the bases thanks to two base hits and a hit batter. With Bree Spence in the game in relief, she hit Lauren Lupinetti with the ball, driving in the go-ahead run on a hit by pitch, 2-1. The bases were still loaded and with only one out on the board, but the Bulls turned a crucial double play to end the inning down one run.
Needing a run to tie up the game for the second time, Bullion came up big when needed and tied the game, 2-2, hitting a double to left center to score the runner from first base.
The game would remain scoreless thanks to the pitching efforts by relievers Spence and SJU's Jessica Foley, but it was only time before one of team's offense took advantage.
Leading off the 11th inning, Griffin came up to bat and ended the tie crushing the ball over the left-field fence for the 3-2 win in the deciding game.
Spence, who was credited with her second victory of the day, pitched four innings, scattering one hit while striking out three.
In the first game of the day, Spence (14-6) led the way for the Bulls, holding St. John's scoreless while in the circle. In six and two-thirds innings of work, the sophomore dished out three hits and struck out six while allowing only one walk.
The Bulls got their offense going in the second inning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. After loading up the bases with one out on the board, Sarah Watson singled to the gap in right center, driving in Holle from third base. Freshman Britta Giddens came up to bat next and flied out to centerfield, driving in Bullion for the sacrifice and RBI.
The Red Storm looked to make a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. Spence got into a little trouble, allowing a single and hitting a batter to put the tying runs on base with two outs. Kasey Cash came into the game and got the go-ahead run at the plate to strike out, while picking up her third save of the year in the shutout victory.
With the wins, USF improves its record to 32-18, 4-0 BIG EAST. With the losses, St. John's record drops to 20-16, 3-5 BIG EAST.
Next up for the Bulls is a non-conference doubleheader against Stetson on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the USF Softball Field.
