VILLANOVA, Pa. (May 6, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team continued its hold of the first-place title in the BIG EAST, sweeping Villanova, 2-0, 7-1, in the Bulls' second-to-last series of the regular season.
Although they are in first place in the conference, the No. 25 Bulls will have to win the series against Rutgers on Sunday at noon to bring home a regular season title.
With game one scoreless going into the fourth inning, the Bulls got their offense going and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Britta Giddens led off the inning knocking the ball deep into left center for a double. Samantha Ray came up to bat and laid down a bunt to the left side of the infield. The Villanova defense was using a shift and no one was there to field Ray's bunt, so Giddens took advantage and scored off the infield single.
With one swing of the bat USF added an insurance run to the board as Christie Chapman hit a solo home run to right center, 2-0. Chapman's blast was the seventh of the season and the 22nd of her career.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Villanova (13-38, 2-18 BIG EAST) got its offense going and tried to make a move to tie up the game. Spence gave up her second hit of the game ? a leadoff single to pinch hitter Lisa Curran. USF pitcher Cristi Ecks was called into the game, and, after giving up a double to put the tying runs at second and third, she retired the last three batters to keep the shutout in tact.
Villanova's game-tying chance could not get going in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Ecks continued her solid play, retiring the side on two strikeouts and a groundout.
Spence and Ecks combined for the three-hitter shutout victory. Spence (21-7) went five innings, allowing two hits while striking out three batters. She retired 15-straight batters before she gave up her second hit in the sixth inning. Ecks recorded her fifth save, giving up one hit while posting three Ks in two innings of work.
In game two, Krista Holle led off the second inning blasting the ball over the left-field fence to give USF the early 1-0 lead. Holle's solo homer was the first of the year for the senior.
The Bulls offense continued to produce in the third inning, adding two runs to take a 3-0 advantage. A leadoff double by Giddens and a bunt single by Ray put runners at the corners. Tiffany Stewart hit a single through the left side, scoring Giddens. USF eventually loaded up the bases, and, with one out of the board, Ashley Bullion flied out to left field, tallying the sacrifice as Ray scored from third.
In the fourth inning, the Bulls took advantage of two walks and a hit by pitch to load up the bases. With two outs on the board, Stewart come up to the plate and hit her fourth-career grand slam home run to dead center, giving USF a 7-0 lead.
Villanova ended USF's shutout in the bottom of the sixth inning, 7-1, as Natalie Hord drove in the Wildcats lone run off of a single. However, that was the only run the team would score as Ecks was dominant in the circle.
Ecks (20-11) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing one run on eight hits. The freshman struck out eight batters and did not allow one walk in seven innings of work.
