PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 7, 2006) ? The University of South Florida softball team split games with Rutgers University, losing 2-1 and winning 2-1 at the Rutgers Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, the Bulls (47-22, 17-3 BIG EAST) drop down to second place in the BIG EAST standings as Louisville (19-3 BIG EAST) won both of its games against Villanova on Sunday, giving the Cardinals the top spot due to winning percentage.
In game one, Rutgers (15-37, 5-17 BIG EAST) opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third, taking a 2-0 lead. With runners at second and third, Kristin Madoch hit a two-out double down the left line to drive in the go-ahead runs.
USF answered back in the top of the fourth inning, as Britta Giddens hit a solo shot over the left-field fence, cutting the lead down to 2-1. The home run marked the third of the season for the freshman second baseman.
After Giddens' homer, the Bulls could not get their offense going, as the Scarlet Knights pitching staff was solid in the circle. Reliever Jessica Crosby came in the game in the fifth inning and retired the side after her counterpart, starter Christina Gilman held USF to one hit.
Still trailing by one run, USF tried to make a move in the sixth inning. With two outs on the board, back-to-back singles by Samantha Ray and Christie Chapman put the tying and go-ahead run on base. Tiffany Stewart came up to bat and hit a grounder to the third baseman and tried to beat the throw to first, but the ball just beat her to the bag to end the scoring chance.
In the seventh inning, USF was retired one-two-three to end the game with the 2-1 loss.
Gillman (6-10) was credited with the win, scattering one hit while walking one in four innings of work. Crosby picked up the save, pitching three scoreless innings.
Bree Spence (21-8) got the start in the circle for USF and picked up the loss. In her four and two-thirds innings, she dished out only two runs on five hits while striking out three.
Game two started as the previous game did?with Rutgers getting on the board first. Consecutive base hits put runners at first and second for Amanda Shaw, who singled to left field to give the Scarlet Knights the 1-0 lead. With one out on the board and the bases still full, USF turned a crucial double play to end the scoring opportunity for Rutgers.
The Bulls answered back and took their first lead of the series, 2-1, in the fourth inning. After Stewart led off with a single and Ashley Bullion walked, a double steal put runners in scoring position. Laura Wolf came up to the plate and drove the ball down the left line, knocking in two runs for the USF lead.
Rutgers could not get anything going in the final innings to score the tying run thanks to starter Ecks' effort in the circle. In her complete-game win, the freshman (21-11) allowed one run on four hits while striking out eight. She closed out the seventh inning retiring the side on Ks.
USF will head to South Bend, Ind. to play in the BIG EAST Championship from May 11-13 and will be the No. 2 seed in the single-elimination tournament.
