TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2007) ? The No. 22/23 ranked University of South Florida softball team split games in opening day action on Friday night at the Best Western Tournament held at the USF Softball Field. The Bulls defeated Western Kentucky, 1-0, in game one, and then just fell short, 6-5, against Arkansas in the second game.
Senior Danielle Urbanik led the Bulls to victory in the first game with a solo home run and then put USF within reach of the win against Arkansas, hitting a grad slam to put the score 6-5. The Riverview, Fla. native's two blasts give her a career total of 12, tying Ginny Georgantas for eighth place in the USF career record books. Urbanik batted .750 on the day.
After a pitching duel between USF (1-1) and Western Kentucky (0-2) kept the game scoreless for six innings, Urbanik broke the stalemate and gave USF the win with a leadoff home run to left center in the top of the seventh.
Junior Bree Spence got the start in the circle for USF and pitched a gem of a game despite not receiving the decision. The Clearwater, Fla. native allowed only two hits while striking out six in five and two-thirds scoreless innings. Cristi Ecks (1-0) came into the game in relief of Spence in the sixth inning and was credited with the victory. The sophomore closed out the game posting two Ks while only giving up one hit.
Hilltopper pitcher Jennifer Kemp was credited with her first loss of the year, giving up one run on four hits while posting four strikeouts in seven innings.
In their second game of the day, the Bulls found themselves trailing 4-0 in the first inning. Arkansas got its bats going early and often and eventually jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
In the fourth inning the USF offense came alive and took advantage of Arkansas (1-1) pitcher Katy Henry, who threw nine innings earlier in the day. The Bulls quickly loaded the bases and got their first run on the board thanks to a sacrifice fly by Ashley Bullion. With a base empty, freshman Alison Savarese filled them up again drawing a walk. With two outs on the board, Urbanik came up to bat and cleared the bases with a grand slam home run, putting the Bulls within one run of the lead, 6-5.
USF had some chances in the sixth inning to tie the score or take the lead with runners on second and third, but could bring them home.
Kasey Cash (0-1) got the start and was credited with the loss, giving up six runs - four earned - on seven hits in three and two-thirds innings. Freshman Kristen Gordon made her first collegiate appearance in relief and only allowed one hit while posting six Ks in three and one-third innings of work.
Three newcomers made their debut against Western Kentucky. Freshman Tara Toscano got the start in left field and tallied her first collegiate hit. Junior Courtney Mosch, who transferred from Syracuse, started in right field and singled in the game, while community college transfer Aya Nakajima played in centerfield for all seven innings. Against Arkansas, freshman Lauren Rodriguez got the start at second base. Rookie Melissa Rosas also saw action in both games as a pinch runner.
The Bulls will be back in action on Saturday when they take on Virginia at 12:30 p.m. USF will either play at 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. depending on the game's outcome.
